John Rebel Phillips II passed away December 21, 2021, at St. Mary’s Hospital following complications from pancreatic cancer. A Celebration of Life will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, 2021 at Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO. The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until service time at the funeral home. John was born on May 27, 1951, in Fort Campbell, Kentucky to John R. and RoseMary (Ettinger) Phillips. John graduated from Piper High School in Piper, Kansas and attended Pittsburg State University. John worked as a supervisor at the Hawthorn Plant at Kansas City Power and Light for 38 years where he made many lifelong friends and achieved many promotions and accolades.
John was united in marriage to Susie on August 15, 1992, and together they built a life full of adventure, laughter, and love. This included days at Lake Tapawingo, lots of nights at the ball fields and wrestling meets, countless vacations, concerts, BBQ’s card games and parties. John would never pass up a chance to be on that water. Fishing was his favorite past time and brought him great joy and peace. John was able to spend his retirement in Florida, where he relished being surrounded by friends, the water, and the most beautiful landscape of which he could dream.
John is survived by his wife Susie, son John Rebel III (Amanda), son Joseph William, son Paul Dornon, son Chad Rovenstine (Jessica), daughter Sherrie Brady, nine grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren, brother Charles William (Cheri), sister Debbie Swinney (John), several nieces and nephews, countless friends and people who loved him. Memorial contributions can be made to: Moffitt Cancer Center Foundation ~ 12905 Magnolia Dr. Tampa FL. 33612.
Obituary submitted by family
Arrangements: Royer Funeral Home, Grain Valley, MO 816-847-4441
Ronald Bryce Stehman
24 Dec 2021I worked with John for several years at Hawthorn. He was a good man.
Sorry for your loss
Ralph & Carolyn Boehm
25 Dec 2021John was a Great person and Shift Foreman at Hawthorn Station. I had the pleasure of working with him and watching him develop into a caring, sharing individual willing to do whatever it took to achieve success for himself and those he would lead and develop. My sincere condolences to the entire family on your loss! He will be missed but always in your minds and hearts.
Donna Bunton
25 Dec 2021We are so sorry for your loss. The Bunton Family
Joe and Marsha Rodriguez
28 Dec 2021John was such a fun and loving man. We have so many good Chiefs tailgating memories with John and Suzie. They were sorely missed when they moved to Florida. Our condolences to Suzie and the kids and their families.