MENDOTA – Randy “Flip” J. Phillips, 69, of Mendota, passed away June 28, 2024, at home with his two daughters by his side.
Services will be at 4 p.m. Sunday July 7 at First United Methodist Church. Pastor Larry Sheaves will officiate. Visitation will be at the church from 1 p.m. until services. Cremation rites will follow. Wasmer Funeral Home is privileged to assist the family.
Flip was born June 9, 1955, in Mendota, to George and Eileen (Wood) Phillips. He graduated from Mendota High School in 1974. Flip married the love of his life, Judy Bonifas, on Aug. 7, 1993, at the First United Methodist Church.
He will be forever missed by his two daughters, Nicole (Kyle) Manders of Lamotte, Iowa, and Melissa Jensen of Addison; three grandchildren, Gabe Manders, Mitch Manders and Camiel Manders; and brother, Terry Phillips of Mendota.
He was preceded in death by his father, George Phillips, parents Danny and Eileen Biers; wife Judy on March 29, 2024; sister, Sandy Coss; two sisters-in-law, Tanya Phillips and Cheryl Douell; brother-in-law, Paul Bonifas; and nephew Dale Plant.
Flip wanted to be a draftsman like his father and pursued the profession beginning in his junior year of high school. The day after graduation he began working as a draftsman. Early on he became interested in surveying and for the following 42 years was a land surveyor. Flip was instrumental in his brother Terry working on his team, and they worked several years together retiring from Survey Tech a Division of C.E.S., Inc.
Throughout his marriage, each of his working days, he wrote a love note to his wife. Together they were Charter Members of the New Covenant Assembly of God, a volunteer for 16 years with Illinois Valley Hospice, and 18 years with Illinois Valley PADS. He was a lifetime member of Mendota VFW Post #4079 Auxiliary. Flip believed in giving back and was working on building back the volunteer numbers for the OSF Hospice program. He was a straight shooter, and had a wonderful sense of humor, but Flip was most importantly a man of God. He was firm in his faith and unapologetic in his words and actions.
Pallbearers will be Tom Olson, Jim Clark, Doug “Bird” Truckenbrod, John Bay, Gabe Manders, Mitch Manders, Ryan Coss, Clayton Coss, and Kyle Manders. Memorials may be directed to New Assembly of God.
Flip asked that all attending wear comfortable clothes.
Condolences may be left at wasmerfuneralhome.com.
