Donald Lee Phillips, 82, of Rushville died at 12:33 a.m. June 2, 2021, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.Donald Lee Phillips, 82, of Rushville died at 12:33 a.m. June 2, 2021, at St. John’s Hospital in Springfield.
He was born Nov. 20, 1938, in Schuyler County, a son of Sammie and Helen McClelland Phillips. He married Karen Geer on June 14, 1958, in Rushville. She survives.
Also surviving are one daughter, Le Ann (and Robert) White of Blue Springs, Mo.; one son, Tim (and Vicki) Phillips of Rushville; one brother, Marvin (and Ruth) Phillips of Rushville; two sisters, Karen Trone of Sudbury, Mass., and Joyce (and Dennis) Heitz of Rushville; four grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by one brother, Dale (and Mary Lou) Phillips.
He graduated from Rushville High School in 1956 where he was president of the Rushville FFA Chapter his senior year. He was a feed salesman with Schuyler FS before farming full-time with his lifelong partner, Karen. They also raised hogs and cattle for many years. He was an active member of the Illinois Pork Producers board and they were awarded the Farm Family of the Year award by the Schuyler County Farm Bureau in 1988. He farmed until the end, planting his last crop in April, 2021.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Rushville, where he was integral in computerizing the church’s accounting and membership records. He was one of the early adopters of computerized farm records and farm-use GPS. He also was one of the founding leaders of the Schuyler Specials 4-H Club and volunteered with the Rushville FFA Chapter.
Services were held Tuesday at his church with Pastor Stacy Tomich officiating. Burial was in the Rushville City Cemetery. Wood Funeral Home in Rushville was in charge of arrangements.
Memorials may be made to his church.
You are invited to share your memories of Don, leave condolences and view his memorial video at www.woodfh.net.
Current Obituaries in the Astoria South Fulton Argus