Phillip W Newcomer

Phillip Wayne Newcomer joined his Heavenly Father November 9, 2023. Phil is preceded in death by parents Arlene (Glass) Fitzgerald and Thomas Fitzgerald, and step mother Carol Fitzgerald.  He is survived by sisters Deborah Keller, Mitzi Spory, and Tonya Shepherd; nephews Don Brady, Rick Keller, and Tom Keller; nieces Emily Speelman and Abby Shepherd; and 11 great nieces and nephews.  A gentle soul with a humble shyness who spoke little but chuckled a lot, Phil possessed a lively and adventuresome spirit and a can-do determination that, until recently, made him as quick on “his sticks” as anyone on two feet.  Where ever he journeyed, Phil carried his passion for music with him, toting his guitar, radio, and a knowledge of music trivia that no one could beat in a pick-up game of “Name that Tune.” No matter where he called home, Phil shared whatever he had—his time and smile as a peer volunteer with Lutheran Christian Ministries, his hope for community as a voter registration volunteer, and sometimes his own apartment with folks he met in the park or on the street who “just needed a little help.”  For many years, Phil also participated in fundraising events for the Easter Seals, an organization that provided support to him in his early years and for which he was a poster child in the 1960s.  Although circumstances led Phil to Siemon’s Lakeview Manor five years ago, he remained thankful, looking forward to attending Thursday’s church services, tinkering with his computer, listening to Old Time Radio, watching football, and munching on snacks. May we all be inspired by Phil, a shy man who never complained, never asked for anything and, as echoed in the lyrics of his favorite artist Elton John, sought only the simple life “beyond the yellow brick road.” Arrangements under the direction of Robert Halverson Funeral Home.  Condolences may be made at www.halversonfuneralhome.com

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