Philip Vanvleet

Philip G. VanVleet, Sr., age 76, of Irons died on Tuesday October 21, 2014 at his home, surrounded by his family, after a 2 year battle with cancer.  He was born on July 30, 1938 in Jackson, Michigan to George D. and Mary Jane L. (Young) VanVleet.  He attended the Pennfield and Battle Creek Central Schools and married Marilyn Dewar on September 26, 1959 at Pilgrim Holiness Church in Battle Creek, Michigan. Philip retired after 25 years as a millwright for the Kellogg Company.  He was a Cub Scout Webelo leader and Cub Scout Master of Pack 374 for six years, a Democrat Precinct Delegate for District 5, Sargent-At-Arms for the Lake County Democratic Party, served on the Elk Township Board of Review for 12 years, and was a member of the Kellogg 25 Year Club. After retirement, he and his wife moved to their retirement home on Big Bass Lake in Irons. Philip’s hobbies were woodworking, gardening, crossword puzzles and fishing.   He lived on a private road and he and a neighbor were appointed “road commissioners” and kept the road plowed in the winter and grated in the summer.  Whenever a neighbor or family member asked for help, he was there for them.  Philip did a lot of volunteer work.  He helped build an addition to the Peacock Northwest Senior Center in Irons, built wooden toys to auction off as fundraisers for the Lake County Democratic Party and he and his wife worked as volunteers at the Irons Flea Roast for several years.  He and his wife raised three children of their own and “adopted” the nieces and nephews of his wife:  Peggy (Grant) Lacy, Becky (Lloyd) West, Janice Nilson and Robert (Melissa) Nilson. He leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 55 years, Marilyn, children: Philip, Jr. (Christine) of Battle Creek, Diane (Roger) Coss of Irons, and Dennis (Laura) of Chase; grandchildren, Philip and Bryan VanVleet, Robert and David Gwilt, Brittaney VanVleet, Cadi VanOrman, Jessica and Scott Daniels and Greg Hill; 12 great grandchild; sisters LaJean Hewitt of Bellevue, Barbara (George) Snyder of East Leroy,  Jacqueline (John) Malinowski of Marshall, Pamela (John) Jozwiak of Florida; brother Darrell (Marcia) VanVleet; and his best friend Daisy who rode “shotgun” with him a lot.  He was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, DeWayne and Terry.  Philip will be greatly missed by his loving family and friends. Funeral Services will be held 1:00pm Monday at the Richard A. Henry Funeral Home with interment to follow at Floral Lawn Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. this evening. www.henryfuneralhome.org

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