Philip Eugene Powers

MADISON/MONONA –Philip "Phil" Powers, age 93, of Monona, passed away on Tuesday, March 29, 2016, at Heritage Monona Memory Care. He was born on Feb. 13, 1923, in Prairie du Sac, to Harley "Orson" and Margaretha Powers. He attended school in Baraboo and was class president of his graduating class. Phil served as a radio operator on the USS Grundy during World War II. Following his discharge, he attended and graduated from the U.W. Madison. Phil loved music and during his time at the UW he was a tuba player for the UW Marching Band. He married Betty Jo Baumgartner in Merrimac on Feb. 5, 1944. They had two children, Keith and Paul. Phil taught school for several years and then became employed with the State of Wisconsin, from which he retired in 1983. Phil belonged to Bashford United Methodist Church for 53 years where he served as institutional representative for the church sponsored Boy Scout Troop, was involved in the Sunday school program, food pantry, and was church historian for many years. He was an avid gardener and passed his love of gardening onto his son, Paul. Phil was devoted to his family, particularly his younger sister, Betty. Phil and Betty Jo were avid Madison Scouts Drum and Bugle Corps fans and followed the corps all over the U.S. and Canada for many years. The highlight of his life in the past 10 years was participating in the Badger Honor Flight to Washington D.C. Phil is survived by his wife, Betty Jo; son, Paul (Shari Cnare) of Madison; grandchildren, Russell (Jenny) Lautzenhiser of Everett ,Wash., and Sarah Lautzenhiser (Jim Glanzer) of Antigo; three great-grandchildren, Mara, Anna and Edward Lautzenhiser of Everett Wash.; sister, Doris Allen of Chagrin Falls, Ohio; brother, Marvin (Connie) Powers of Arlington; sisters-in-law, Barb Powers of Markesan Wis., Shirley Jochman of San Antonia, Texas, and Carole Baumgartner of Madison, Wis.; and many nieces and nephews residing all over the U.S. His eldest son, Keith, passed away the next day, March 30, 2016, from a cardiac event. Phil was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Betty; brothers, Ivan and Don; sister-in-law, Connie Powers; and brothers-in-law, Gordon Allen, and Roger and Leonard Baumgartner. Funeral services will be held at BASHFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 329 North St., Madison, at 11 a.m. on Monday, April 4, 2016. Visitation will be at the church from 9:30 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday. Burial at Roselawn Memorial Park, Monona, will follow after a luncheon at the church. Memorials may be made in Phil's name to Bashford United Methodist Church and Badger Honor Flight, Inc., PO Box 258066, Madison, WI 53725. A very special thank you to Agrace HospiceCare and to all the resident caregivers at Heritage Monona Memory Care. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420