Jeanette A. Phillips, 85, of Muscatine, passed away on Sunday, June 26, 2022, at her home.
Jeanette and Allan’s graveside service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 5, 2022, in St. Mary’s Cemetery. Reverend Bruce Fischer will officiate.
Visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, June 30, 2022, at the Ralph J. Wittich-Riley-Freers Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Jeanette Phillips Scholarship Fund. Online condolences may be made at www.wittichfuneralhome.com.
Mrs. Phillips was born on May 29, 1937, in Nichols, the daughter of George Albert and Alice (Bekker) Stych. She married Allan Phillips on August 4, 1956, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Muscatine. They have four children, Teresa, Julie, Jeff, and Brian and celebrated 66 years of marriage together.
She was a graduate of Muscatine Catholic High School in 1955, Muscatine Junior College, and Marycrest College with a masters degree with honors. She was a lifetime educator, Jeanette taught for High Prairie Rural School, several Muscatine Schools, Quad Cities Schools, and Iowa Weslyn College. Jeanette was a member of the Alpha Delta Kappa Sorority. Jeanette was also president of the Muscatine Association of Retired School Personnel. She was a life member of the National Education Association. Jeanette was the Muscatine Elementary Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator and did several presentations, traveling to Des Moines and Boston, Massachusetts. Jeanette was a Talented and Gifted Coordinator when she retired. She was a friend of the Melpine School Group at Wild Cat Den and was appointed to Public Relations Iowa Retired School Personal Associate (IRSPA) for the state of Iowa. Her family established the Jeanette Phillips Scholarship Fund.
She was a member of Sister-Cities organization and traveled to Japan and Russia for the Sister-Cities meetings and presentations. She served on the Judicial Magistrate Commissions and Property Adjustments Board. Jeanette was a member of the Durant Unity Club and the governmental representative for the Ladies of the Moose Lodge from 1985-1992. She served as a council member, and she was Mayor of Muscatine from 1993-1995. When she was Mayor, she rode with the Muscatine Police Drug Awareness Unit and went to Appleton, Wisconsin for the inspection of the Muscatine Fire Truck under construction. She was Mayor when the Muscatine Transfer Site was built, and the Fifth Street Neighborhood Organization was formed. She also presided at the Railroad Relocation Land Transfer for the Muscatine Riverfront Development. Jeanette was on the board of directors at Crossroads Inc. from 1985-2000, the Muscatine Hospital Auxiliary, and served on the Health Commission, Plumbers Examining Commission, Art Foundation, and St. Mary’s Guild. She was a former Girl Scout leader and CCD teacher. Jeanette was a former member of the AM Kiwanis Club and friend of Musser Library. She was a lay reader at St. Mary’s Church and a former member of the Geneva Country Club. Jeanette was a member of the Moose Lodge and the Community Nursing Board.
She enjoyed sewing and crafts, cooking and baking, gardening, playing cards, traveling the globe, and reading. Jeanette especially enjoyed her family and friends.
She will be deeply missed by her family, Teresa Phillips and her children, Michael Adams and daughter, Lily, Alyson Glynn and husband, Travis, and their children, Alex and Grayson; Julie Neipert and husband, Bill, their children, Christopher Crumly and wife, Michale, their children, Peyton and Drake, Ryan Crumly and wife, Emilee, their children, Jurrnee and Lyric, Abbi Neipert and children, Casch and Lyrik, and Morgan Neipert and children, Tavien and Kyliah; Jeff Phillips and his daughter, Tiara; Brian Phillips and wife, Connie, their children, Tiffany Phillips and partner Austin Mogler, and children, Noelia, Barrett, and Steele, Lynsey Ghavimi and husband, Piyom, their children, Reza, Elle, and Emme, and Nathan Clark and children, Faith, Dameon, and Charley, and Morgan Machholz and children, Adriel, Willow, and Ivy.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Allan; siblings, George Stych, Ron Stych, Wayne Stych, Rita Phelps, Donna Connisbee.
Jeanette touched many lives throughout her life and was always willing to help in any way. Her travels around the globe enlightened her life and she continued to enrich others’ lives by sharing her endeavors with others. Her family was and will always be so proud of all her accomplishments and the loving spirit in her heart.
