JOHN S. “STEVE” Phillips SrAnita, PA

JOHN S. "STEVE" Phillips Sr, of Anita passed away peacefully on 13 February 2023
at the Punxsutawney Area  Hospital, surrounded by his loving family ; following a long 6 year battle against Acute Myelodysplastic Leukemia.

He was born on 7 April 1952 in Punxsutawney, the youngest son of Joseph Aloysius Phillips Sr. and Lois M. nee Stigers Phillips. His family lived on Perry Street in Punxsy for many years while he was growing up. Many friends and acquaintances will also know him as "Scuba Steve"!

He was married on 27 February 1979 to Marianne L. Fisher, who survives.

He retired in 2015 from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation where he worked as an
equipment operator and temporary foreman for 20 years.  He had previously worked for the ST & E Trucking Company, Brad Ragan - Goodyear Tire Inc. in DuBois, the Earth Mover Tire Service and Mahoning Maid in Punxsutawney.

Steve was a volunteer Fireman for over 30 years, serving with a number of Jefferson County fire departments, including the Lindsey Fire Company Station 40, the Reynoldsville Fire Company Station 6 and the Brockway Fire Company Station 1 and in Clearfield County with  the J. E. DuBois  No. 3 in DuBois, Pa.

He was also a former member of the Punxsutawney Fire Department Scuba Team.

He was an Honorably Discharged veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve having served for 9 years with A - BTRY 4/92ND, 347 QM CO. and  B - BTRY 4/8TH, in Punxsutawney.

He held a 2nd Honorable Discharge from the Pennsylvania National Guard 876th Engineers in Punxsutawney following 5 years of service.
He was a member of the Walston Club, the American Legion Post # 0062, the Punxsutawney Eagles Aerie # 1231 and the Reynoldsville Eagles Aerie # 540.

Steve enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, riding the Amtrak trains across the U.S.A with his wife and growing the best darned garlic in the county every year which he readily supplied to family and friends; his wife will carry on growing his prized garlic in his memory for as long as she possibly can.

Steve was preceded in death by his parents and 3 brothers, Joseph A. Phillips Jr., William L. Phillips and George E. Phillips and also by his infant son, Shawn Stephen Phillips.

He is survived by 4 grandchildren, Sara Rose Phillips, Danielle Lois Phillips, Shawn Joseph Phillips, all of Punxsutawney and Cole Phillips of DuBois; along with their parents, Benjamin and Helena Johnson Miller of Punxsutawney and Kelly Knobloch of DuBois.
He is also survived by his sister, Mrs. Judith Baker (Frank) of Lucinda PA. his sister in law, Carol Ann Phillips of Valencia Pa. and  by 4 Nieces and 1 Nephew.

Family And friends will be received at the Fait - d'Argy Funeral Home at 117 North Jefferson Street in Punxsutawney, on Friday 17 February 2023 from 4 PM to 8 PM.

The family respectfully requests for everyone to attend the funeral mass which will be celebrated on Saturday 18 February at the Saints Peter and Paul Church located at 714 Sutton Street in Punxsutawney beginning at 10am and officiated by Father Vasyl Kadar. Military honors will be rendered by The Jefferson Honor Guard immediately following the funeral service. Online condolences and other information may be found by visiting www.dargyfh.com