Thomas J Phillip, 77, of Stevens Point, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Sunday, April 19, 2026. Tom was born on July 16, 1948 in Stevens Point to Casimer and Esther (Klesmith) Phillip. He grew up on his family’s farm in Mill Creek and graduated from PJ Jacobs High School. He served in the Vietnam War as a sergeant in the 143rd Signal Battalion and was honorably discharged on May 13, 1971.

On October 21, 1972, he married Diane Pionek at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church. They began their 53 years together in Wisconsin Rapids where he started a 39-year career as a journeyman millwright at Consolidated Papers-Biron Division and also served as a union steward for a number of years. They moved to Stevens Point a few years later to raise their four kids. He was actively involved in the PTA at Jackson Elementary School and was the president of the St Bartholomew Holy Name Society. After his retirement, he couldn’t sit still, so he did odd jobs working in maintenance, septic cleaning, and snowplowing and road maintenance for the Town of Carson.

Tom enjoyed hunting with his family, cutting wood with the guys, feeding the numerous birds, deer, and whatever other wildlife he could attract to the feeders in his yard, fishing in his boat at the lake, playing cards with his friends, keeping his grass pristine, and cooking fish fries at the cabin up north.

His greatest honor was being a soldier and serving his country. He never missed an opportunity to fire in a 21-gun salute to a fallen comrade with his fellow American Legion Post 6 veterans. And he was very proud that two of his grandchildren, Kendallyn Jeske, PFC, Army, Fort Bragg, NC, and Phoenix Grosskopf, SGT, Army National Guard, Stevens Point, WI, also serve their country.

His greatest joy, though, was his family. He never missed a chance to brag about them, even to random strangers. “Pappy” was always ready to fix, build, mow, saw, chop, wire, paint, or dig whatever anyone needed. And he was always the first to yell hello when anyone came to visit.

Tom is survived by his family—his wife, Diane; his children Becky Phillip, David Phillip, Rachel Phillip, and Tammy Phillip (Jody); his grandchildren Karrlyn Grosskopf (Phoenix), Kendallyn Jeske (Joey), Carl Rosenthal, Anton Rosenthal, Kitty Lindner (Jeremy), and Colton Sullivan; his siblings Elaine Jazdzewski (Leonard) and Bill Phillip (Darlene); his sister-in-law Gayle Phillip; and six nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Rick Phillip.

Tom’s family would like to thank the Stevens Point Oncology Department nurses and Dr. Islam for their wonderful care to our dad for the past two years. You truly became family to us and we are forever grateful to all of you. And to Charlette at Compassus Hospice, thank you for your care in helping him make the final step in his journey.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Tom will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday April 24, 2026, at St. Bartholomew Catholic Church, 2493 County Road M Stevens Point. Visitation on Thursday from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. with the American Legion Post 6 having a ritual at 6:30 p.m. at the Pisarski Funeral Home 703 Second street Stevens Point. Visitation will take place again on Friday from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at the church. Full military honors will follow the funeral mass. Pisarski Funeral Homes are honored to be serving the Phillip Family. 

We invite and encourage those wishing to order flowers for the Phillip Family to do so directly on the Pisarski Funeral Home website which will take you to a local florist. This will ensure timely delivery.