1946
Philip
2016
Philip Holmes
April 13, 1946 — February 11, 2016
Philip Alan Holmes passed away early Thursday morning, February 11, 2016 after battling pancreatic cancer for more than 3 years. The middle son of the late Harold G. and Florence M. (Laube) Holmes, Phil was born April 13, 1946 in Chicago. Survivors include: wife Ruth Mensing, brothers Richard and Roger (Sharon) Holmes, sons Eric and Jeff (Carrie) Holmes and granddaughter Lily (from his marriage to Diane Roberts), step daughters Julie Parrent, Janet Virella and Janet’s children Alexis Parrent, William and Angel Virella (from his marriage to Barbara Parrent, who preceded him in death in 2006); also, stepdaughter Valerie (Keith) Simmons and stepson Gavin (Courtney Garnica) Zeppuhar, and step grandsons Logan Garnica and Alexander Zeppuhar (from his marriage to Ruth in 2010).
A lifelong “tinkerer”, Phil received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and spent over 30 years with Zenith Corporation. He began his career designing TV tuners but switched to marketing, then finance after receiving his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago “190” program. Later in his career, Phil worked in finance at Ameritech and Consorta.
A lover of a broad variety of music styles, Phil enjoyed attending concerts and musical theater. While a student at Purdue, he participated in its All-American Marching Band. For more than 25 years, he sang in the St. Paul church choir. Although of Swedish and German ancestry, Phil was a devoted 20 year member of the Norwegian Bjornsen Male Chorus. In addition to singing in the chorus, Phil also performed solos and was a frequent emcee of programs, known for telling Ole & Lena jokes.
Phil also had a love of aviation, achieving his private pilot license in 1971. He enjoyed taking short flights with “Captain Bob” Benson to nearby airports for “$100 hamburgers” and missed only one EAA convention at Oshkosh in 30+ years. Despite having to slow down a bit for the 2015 fly-in, he declared it his “best Oshkosh ever!”
A man of seemingly boundless energy, Phil was always on the go and looking for things to do. He possessed the best looking yard in the neighborhood, with many flowers and a manicured lawn. Phil also had a love of travel and seeing the country, but was especially fond of Disney theme parks, taking frequent trips to Orlando. No one could match his stamina or enthusiasm for the rides.
Phil pursued life with a passion, even after cancer invaded his body. He was greatly loved by family and friends, and will be missed.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016 at St. Paul Evangelical Church, Bloomingdale, Illinois. A time of gathering and remembrance will begin at 10:30 am, with the memorial service at 11 am. Burial will be private. In lieu of floral tributes, please consider a donation in his memory to Pancreatic Cancer Network, St. Paul Evangelical Church or The Morton Arboretum. Arrangements by Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory Roselle. (630) 529-5751.
A lifelong “tinkerer”, Phil received a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from Purdue University and spent over 30 years with Zenith Corporation. He began his career designing TV tuners but switched to marketing, then finance after receiving his M.B.A. from the University of Chicago “190” program. Later in his career, Phil worked in finance at Ameritech and Consorta.
A lover of a broad variety of music styles, Phil enjoyed attending concerts and musical theater. While a student at Purdue, he participated in its All-American Marching Band. For more than 25 years, he sang in the St. Paul church choir. Although of Swedish and German ancestry, Phil was a devoted 20 year member of the Norwegian Bjornsen Male Chorus. In addition to singing in the chorus, Phil also performed solos and was a frequent emcee of programs, known for telling Ole & Lena jokes.
Phil also had a love of aviation, achieving his private pilot license in 1971. He enjoyed taking short flights with “Captain Bob” Benson to nearby airports for “$100 hamburgers” and missed only one EAA convention at Oshkosh in 30+ years. Despite having to slow down a bit for the 2015 fly-in, he declared it his “best Oshkosh ever!”
A man of seemingly boundless energy, Phil was always on the go and looking for things to do. He possessed the best looking yard in the neighborhood, with many flowers and a manicured lawn. Phil also had a love of travel and seeing the country, but was especially fond of Disney theme parks, taking frequent trips to Orlando. No one could match his stamina or enthusiasm for the rides.
Phil pursued life with a passion, even after cancer invaded his body. He was greatly loved by family and friends, and will be missed.
A memorial service will be held Saturday, February 27, 2016 at St. Paul Evangelical Church, Bloomingdale, Illinois. A time of gathering and remembrance will begin at 10:30 am, with the memorial service at 11 am. Burial will be private. In lieu of floral tributes, please consider a donation in his memory to Pancreatic Cancer Network, St. Paul Evangelical Church or The Morton Arboretum. Arrangements by Countryside Funeral Home and Crematory Roselle. (630) 529-5751.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Philip Holmes, please visit our flower store.
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