Joseph Philipps Obituary

Philipps, Joseph F. A resident of Oak Park for more than 60 years, died there June 28, 2014, at the age of 96. He was born in Mineral Point, Wisconsin. He began his apprenticeship with Local 597 of the Plumbers and Pipefitters Union in 1937 and was an active member of the Union for more than 75 years. He enlisted in the Army prior to the outbreak of WWII and served in the Aleutian Campaign. There he rose to the rank of Major, serving as a Battery Commander in the Coastal Artillery. After the war, he returned to complete his apprenticeship. In 1954, he was appointed Apprentice and Training Coordinator to assist in the formation of the first Instructor Training and Apprentice Contest held at Purdue University. He was then assigned to the International Training Fund as Coordinator, serving as Administrator of the UA/NCA Training Trust Fund. He completed his many years of service as a Field Representative for the UA/NCA Training Trust Fund. In 1986, he was awarded the prestigious Francis X. McCartin Leadership Award for his many years of dedicated service to the United Association of Journeymen and Apprentices of the Plumbing and Pipefitting Industry in the United States and Canada (UA). This Award recognizes Labor leaders who have provided dedicated leadership and given their utmost to promote the UA while avoiding personal praise and honors. In 2005, he was given The Martin P. Durkin Lifetime Achievement Award for demonstrating distinguished professionalism and dedication to training in the Pipe Trades Industry and for devotion to the highest standards of excellence in craftsmanship. He was an active member of Ascension Church for more than 60 years. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 50 years, Delsie Fields Philipps. He is survived by son, Joseph (Barbara); daughter, Barbara (Neil) Hartigan; daughter, Dorothy (David) Nagel; four grandchildren, Leigh Ann (Bob) Dolan, Busy Philipps (Marc Silverstein), Jim (Beth) Nagel, and Christopher Philipps Shields; and five great-grandchildren, Birdie and Cricket Silverstein, Josie Dolan, Olivia and Joseph Nagel. Visitation Tuesday, July 8, from 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Drechsler, Brown & Williams Funeral Home, 203 S. Marion St., Oak Park. Prayers Wednesday, July 9, at 10:15 a.m., followed by a procession to Ascension Church, 808 S. East Ave., Oak Park, for mass at 11:00 a.m. Interment will follow at Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Hillside, Illinois. In lieu of flowers, please make a donation to Rainbow Hospice, who guided Dad in his final journey. Rainbow Hospice The Ark/Inpatient Unit, 1550 Bishop Court, Mount Prospect, Illinois 60056. Funeral info: 708-383-3191 or drechslerbrownwilliams.com.