Thomas David Phillips, 66, of Russell, Kansas, was called Home to be with our Lord on Friday, March 24, 2023. By the grace of God, Tom lived 58 years with a pacemaker (nearly the only person on this earth who can say that). He received his first pacemaker in 1966 when he was just 8 years old. He grew up in in Royal Oak, Michigan and then moved around a bit as an adult – living in Richmond, Virginia; Rochester, Minnesota; and finally settling in Russell, Kansas 14 years ago.
Thomas was a very talented carpenter, creating beautiful furniture and cabinetry all of his life. He was a very hard worker, even with his life-long heart condition. His courage was incomparable. He loved history, was an avid reader, and was recently awarded a “Lifetime Achievement Medal” in the American Civil War Game Club. Of the 1,250 Confederate members of The Club, only four men have reached this mark. Thomas earned this medal through many years of hard work and commitment to The Club – a remarkable achievement. But of course, playing Civil War games was by far his favorite hobby!
Thomas was the definition of an honorable man. He believed in feeding the magic because he believed in love. He lived life with a gentle spirit and a very loving heart. He met the love of his life, Laura Anne Hess of Russell, Kansas when he was 52. He was deeply in love with her, and she was deeply in love with him. They were best friends and partners in all the ups & downs of life.
Most recently Thomas worked for PureField Ingredients (formerly White Energy) in Russell, Kansas. He was a reliable, dependable, extraordinary employee – working whenever they needed him, literally until the day he died. He had been looking forward to retiring in July.
Thomas is survived by his beloved partner, Laura Anne Hess of Russell, Kansas; his father, Robert Phillips of Ypsilanti, Michigan; sister April Shoemaker of Charlotte, North Carolina; sister Cheryl Levitt of Saginaw, Michigan; sister Denise (& Craig) Frey of Rochester, Minnesota; and sister Sue (& Art) Dorsey of Mount Vernon, Ohio. Thomas was preceded in death by his mother, Glenna (Abernethy) Phillips of Royal Oak, Michigan (also Rochester, Minnesota and Mount Vernon, Ohio) and brother, James Phillips of Clarkston, Michigan.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date. Pohlman-Varner-Peeler Mortuary of Russell, Kansas, is in charge of the arrangements.