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CRYSTAL FALLS — Wilfred James “Jim” Phillips, 85, of Crystal Falls, passed away at home on Lake Emily on Sept. 17, 2022.
Jim was born on April 1, 1937, in his childhood home in Kingsford, Mich., the son of the late Holister and Minnie (Jensen) Phillips. The seventh of eight children, he enjoyed a childhood of hunting, fishing, and ice hockey, and excelled in school. He graduated with the Kingsford Schools class of 1955, and went on to Michigan Technological University, the first member of his family to go to college. He earned a degree in electrical engineering, with honors, in 1959.
In May 1960, his new job with Motorola Corporation took him to the air base in Rome, New York, where he met Sandra (Sandy) Yorton, a striking young woman from nearby Canastota. He already had a date that evening, but he invited Sandy to tag along. When his original date saw how well he and Sandy were hitting it off, she told him to call again sometime when he wasn’t so busy. Jim and Sandy were married four months later, on Sept. 17, 1960.
He worked as an electrical engineer in computer design, a job that took him and Sandy around the United States and even to Europe for a time.
They had four children over the next decade and by the mid-70s decided to move to property on Lake Emily which Jim had bought in the early ’60s.
On this same property, Jim had often fished with his father and family in his childhood, and he and his brother Jack had built a summer house and some rental cabins on the property. These cabins became Phillips Vacation Valley resort, a family business that drew guests from far and wide for many decades. Many of these guests returned with their families year after year, becoming dear friends — some even became family when his eldest daughter married a former summer renter.
Jim also started a business building and remodeling homes in the area, and developed a long list of clients based on his attention to detail and highly ethical business approach. Many of Jim’s customers told him he needed to raise his prices, but he always stuck to what he felt was the fair price for a job.
After retiring, Jim and Sandy bought a winter home in Punta Gorda, Fla., where they made many more friends.
Jim always enjoyed sitting around the kitchen table at the lake or on the lanai in Florida, swapping stories with friends, family, and neighbors.
He loved a good story and a clever joke or riddle.
Other hobbies included hunting, fishing, reading books (which he would grade for anyone who asked!), playing cards, doing crossword puzzles, and watching the Green Bay Packers.
He passed these hobbies along to his children and grandchildren, and taught many life lessons along the way: the value of a strong work ethic and of being honest, honorable, and fair; how to take something apart, fix it, and put it back together; how to waterski; how to climb a ladder; how to rake the yard; how to take “constructive” criticism (especially when playing cards); where to find the best burgers; not to settle for mediocrity.
Jim spent his final days at home, in the house he built, surrounded by his beloved wife, children, grandchildren, and great granddaughter. He is survived by his wife, Sandra; daughters, Jeanine (Marc) Ralston and Susan (Tom) Mayo of Iron River, Mich.; sons, Douglas Phillips (fiancée Daryl) of Kalamazoo, Mich. and Daniel Phillips of Indianapolis, Ind.; brother, Frank (Sandy) Phillips of Matthews, N.C.; sister Phyllis (Robert) Mortl of Sturtevant, Wis.; grandchildren Cassandra, Nicholas, Samantha, Alexander, Daniel, Kate, and Chanelle; great-granddaughter, Scarlett and another great-grandchild on the way; many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brothers, Jack Phillips and Ivan Phillips, and sisters, Marcelle King, Shirley Moroni, and Norma Vanderlin.
Visitation will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24, at the Jacobs Funeral Home in Iron River.
Funeral services will follow immediately at noon.
Interment will be a private family event at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider a donation to: Iron County Cancer Care Unit, PO Box 45, Iron River, Michigan 49935.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Wilfred J. Phillips online at www.jacobsfuneralhomeir.com
Funeral arrangements by the Jacobs Funeral Home of Iron River.
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