Obit: Phillips, William W. (1896 – 1965)

Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org

Surnames: Philips, Johnson, Auzis, McDoran

---------Source: OWEN ENTERPRISE (Owen, Clark County, Wis.) 30 Sep 1965

Phillips, William W. (1 AUG 1896 – 24 SEP 1965)

Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at the Hoeper and Kraut Funeral Home for William Waino Philipps of Owen (Clark Co., Wis.). Rev. Johnson of Eau Claire read the final rites with burial being made at Riverside Cemetery, when the Van Huizen – Fritz American Legion Post conducted military rites.

Serving as pallbearers were Carl Barfnecht, Lee Jensen, Sam Munson, Karl Laube, Art Hansen and C.E. Beck.

Authorities are still trying to determine the exact cause of Phillips’ death and are awaiting a report from the lab in Madison.

His wife discovered his body sitting in the front seat of their car which was still parked in the family garage. The car was not running and both garage doors were open as was one of the front doors of the car.

So immediately she called the fire department and Dr. Phillips but he was dead when they arrived and had been for some time they said. Authorities said Mrs. Phillips thought she heard her husband get up and leave about 5 a.m., as he was going to help a friend do some masonry work.

He was 69 years, 1 month and 24 days of age, being born Aug. 1, 1896 at Wakefield, Mich. In 1912 he came to Wisconsin, living here until he left to serve in World War I. After his discharge he returned to Owen, serving several years as a police officer before moving to Waukegan, Ill., where he worked as a contractor and cement finisher.

On July 4, 1943 he married the former Bernice Auzis in Waukegan, Ill. The couple made their home in that city until his retirement, when they moved to Owen about five years ago.

He is survived by his wife: four brothers, Vern and Harold, Aiken, Minn.; and Uno and Orville of Owen; and a daughter, Mrs. McDoran of Los Angeles, Calif.