Donald W. Phillips

Donald W. Phillips, 83, of Berger, MO, passed away Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at his home.

Donald was born in Atlanta, Illinois on February 17, 1937, the son of the late Byron & Lilian (Haas) Phillips. Donald grew up in Cortez, Colorado where he graduated high school.

He was the husband of Carolyn (Hermeyer) Phillips. They were united in marriage on June 29, 1968, in San Francisco, California.

Donald is survived by his wife Carolyn Phillips, of the home; by a daughter, Donna Wilson, of Washington, Missouri; three sons, Todd Phillips, of Warrenton, Missouri; Louis "Barney" Phillips & wife Laura, of Kansas City, Missouri; and Matthew Phillips, of Hermann, Missouri;  by a brother, Carl Phillips, of Texas; and grandchildren; Alexandra Wilson, Erin Wilson, Boyd Phillips, Josef Wilson, Colin Desalla, Elliott Phillips, and Ivan Phillips.

Donald had a career as a superintendent in underground tunneling, managing subway and pipeline development. He operated the world’s largest drill bit in the 1950’s, working on large-scale construction projects for cities across the country including Chicago, San Francisco, Hollywood, and Washington, D.C. His greatest achievement was to delegate disaster relief construction for the 1983 Stone Creek Canyon mudslide in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Donald spent most of retirement maintaining his property, where he enjoyed fishing, hunting and wildlife conservation. He traveled frequently to Alabama for fishing trips with family and friends. As a devoted husband, Donald could be seen fishing every Friday at his pond, determined to catch fish for his wife to prepare that evening. He also enjoyed supporting his grandchildren’s athletic events.

Services will be held at a later date yet to be determined.  Memorial donations may be given to St. Paul Church, Berger, MO. C/O Toedtmann & Grosse Funeral Home.