With
great sadness, the Phillips Family would like to announce
the death of Harry Eugene Phillips.
He was a 1962 graduate of Kankakee High School. He enlisted
into the Army April 1964. While in Germany, Harry received
orders that he was being sent to Vietnam. His initial
response was “Where is Vietnam? And I hope it is hot there.”
He was discharged from the Army April 1967, and one week
upon returning home he met his future wife at St. Mary’s
Hospital, Therese Langlois. They were married May 4, 1968 at
St. Dennis Church Lockport, IL. Harry
made his livelihood as a Teamster truck driver. He began his
over the road career at Kroehler Furniture in Bradley, IL.
He knew every two lane road, Mom and Pop restaurant, and
back alley across the U.S. He was his own GPS before the
word was ever coined. He also worked for Roger’s Cartage and
retired from ABF in Chicago in 2003. Even after retiring he
continued to travel with his wife. He said he has passed up
so many Memorial markers and historical sites he never had
time to stop, but now he had the time. Everyone thought he
was on one big road trip for the 35 years he drove a semi,
but he was working and never had the time to visit or read
the Historical markers. After retiring from the Teamsters,
he made the time to travel and see the world. He eventually
made it to all 50 states and many foreign countries.
He had the honor of going on Honor Flight
Chicago in 2023. This trip to Washington, D.C. was something
he never would have imagined back in 1967 when he returned
to Kankakee from Vietnam. All of his family was at the
airport to greet him upon his return. What a surprise that
was for him.
He and Therese had five children: one daughter Rebecca
(Romeo) Casiple of LaGrange, IL; four sons, Adam (Gina)
Phillips of Kankakee, IL, Jacob (Jennifer) Phillips of St.
Anne, IL, David (Shannon) Phillips of Redmond, WA, and
daughter-in-law Charlene Phillips of St. Anne, IL, spouse to
their deceased son Noah Phillips. Harry was the proud
grandfather to nine wonderful grandsons and three beautiful
granddaughters.
He is also survived by his mother, Gladys Phillips of
Kingman, AZ and sister, Carole Frizzell of Montgomery, AL,
along with three sisters-in-law, Catherine Langlois of New
Lenox, IL, Madelin Hurley of New Lenox, IL, and Barbara and
Jeff Jennings of Ralston, WV, and many nieces and nephews.
He was a member of Sacred Heart Church Goodrich. He also was
a member of the Knights of Columbus Blessed Trinity Council
15032 of Irwin and a 4th degree member of the Bishop Martin
McNamara 4th degree assembly 202 of Kankakee.
Visitation will be held from 3:00 PM until 8:00 PM on
Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral
Home in Kankakee. An additional visitation will be held from
9:00 AM until 10:00 AM on Thursday, September 25, 2025, also
at Clancy-Gernon-Hertz Funeral Home in Kankakee. The Funeral
Mass will follow at 11:00 AM at Sacred Heart Church
Goodrich. Burial will follow at Mound Grove Cemetery in
Kankakee, beside his brother, John, and his father, Harry.
Memorials may be made to Knights of Columbus Blessed Trinity
Council of St. James Church Irwin, Sacred Heart Church
Goodrich Needy Fund, or The Merchant Street Art Gallery of
Artists with Autism.
