Phillip W. McClaskey
September 06, 2013
Phillip W. McClaskey, born September 21, 1934, passed away September 6, 2013. Family will greet friends at Hamilton’s, 605 Lyon Street, Des Moines, on Wednesday, September 11, 2013, from 6 – 8 pm. A funeral service will be held on Thursday, September 12, at 11 am at Capitol Hill Christian Church, 3322 E. 25th Street, Des Moines, with burial following at Laurel Hill Cemetery. Family and friends are invited to a luncheon afterwards at the church. Memorials may be given to the Shriners Hospitals for Children – Twin Cities (www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org) or to Capitol Hill Christian Church.
Phil (known to his oldest friends as Tike) was born and raised in Des Moines, and met his wife of 58 years, Frances, while they were both teenagers. While she was babysitting in the neighborhood, he asked to borrow a salt shaker to use on some watermelon he and his friends had. She declined; he came back anyway!
He is survived by his loving family, wife Frances (Slater) McClaskey; three children, Cynthia, Jeffrey, and Timothy and daughter-in-law, Diane; five grandchildren, Jessica (Corey) Neuzil, and James (Monica) and their mother Kate, and Rachael, Abbye, and Diego; and two great-grandchildren, Acquila and Madelae. He is also survived by his brother, Newell Shoup, many loving nieces and nephews, and many dear friends. He was predeceased by his mother, Vernon Shoup and his father, Robert F. McClaskey, two brothers, Robert J., and Dwight E., and one infant son, Michael W.
Phil was proud to serve the City of Des Moines as a Firefighter beginning in 1959, and he worked for many years as an Emergency Medical Technician on the Rescue Squad at a number of fire stations. He retired as a Lieutenant in 1983, but still loved to visit his former friends and colleagues and to make new friends. Through 2013, his most recent employment was at the Iowa Lottery. Phil was a 32nd Degree Mason, and a member of Acanthus Lodge #632 in Des Moines, the York Rite, the Knights Templar, and the Mini Bike Patrol in the Za-Ga-Zig Shrine. He assisted for many years with such activities as the Shrine Circus, transporting children to the Shriners Hospital for Children – Twin Cities as a Roadrunner. He rode his 50 cc Benelli Mini Bike in parades all around central Iowa, dressed in his Keystone Cop uniform. Phil was a dedicated member of Grant Park Christian Church, serving as Trustee, Deacon, and Elder. He recently transferred his membership to Capitol Hill Christian Church. He was also a member of the Federation of Retired City Employees, the Des Moines Technical High School Alumni group (1952), and the Senior Men’s Clubs at Terrace Hill and Toad Valley Golf Courses.
His family remembers his great sense of humor, that his emergency scanner was always on, and that he was never one to be idle. He loved to work in his flower and vegetable gardens, and always had home or auto projects ongoing when not working, loving his family, golfing, or helping out his many organizations.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Lee and Jo Hanson
09/11/2013
Fran, Our thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. Phil was such a nice guy. I will always think of him when I eat salmon and baked sweet potato! Hope we will see you soon with the Tech bunch.
Jo Ann Banning
09/11/2013
Fran, please know my heart goes out to you and your family at this time.
Paul Van Ryswyk
09/11/2013
My sincere condolences go out to Phil's family. Phil had a contagious and calming smile, and was a tremendous blessing and a huge encouragement to me during my years as organist at Grant Park Christian Church. I will always remember that he would be busy before the service started, and there would be a fresh pot of coffee waiting when I arrived! Praying for God's peace and comfort during the coming months.
Jason Zilk
09/11/2013
I enjoyed getting to know brother McClaskey. He was alway full of a contagious positive energy. I will miss eating beans with him at fire station 3 every third week. He was a wonderful person.
Bobbi Newell
09/11/2013
Fran, I'm so sorry, I've been thinking of you...
I always liked Phil, he was so warm and friendly every time I saw him.
Norma Brickey
09/11/2013
My deepest sympathies to the family and especially to Cynthia.
Sounds as though Mr. McClaskey lead a wonderful and full life; serving his family and community. May God comfort you in your time of sorrow.
Shari Walling
09/11/2013
Memories of the happiness Phil shared with all and the deep dedication he had for our church will always be with me. I learned much about Christ's love through Phil. Please know my thoughts and prayers are with you all and you have my heart felt Sympathy
Betty Hash
09/10/2013
Dear Cynthia, Please know that you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers during this time. May you find peace and comfort in knowing that others are remembering and praying for you all.
Julie Stoots
09/10/2013
Cynthia,
My thoughts and prayers are with you during this difficult time. You have been blessed to have such a wonderful Father and family.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. John 3:16
Harriet Howell
09/10/2013
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. May you find comfort knowing he is now home.
Diann Marshall
09/10/2013
I am so sorry for your loss. He sounds like a wonderful person. I know all of you will miss him very much. Keep him close in your heart.
You and your family will be in my prayers.
Amanda McGrady
09/09/2013
Cynthia,
I am so sorry for your loss. A Dad is a very special person to a daughter, one that can never be replaced. I experienced this same loss two years ago, and still, not a day passes that I don't think of him. But, know that he will be with you always, in your heart. He will be with you every day. I know this for certain, because I know my Dad is with me. He will watch over you and be there still when you need him. You will be in my thoughts and prayers.
Amanda McGrady
Rev. Craig Robertson
09/09/2013
My dear friend sand brother in Christ and Shrine, I will miss you. Your calm demeanor was very much appreciated during meeting at Grant Park. Your leadership and friendship were lessons in faith and love. I know your faith was strong and you had a personal relationship with God. I know you are home with the Lord and healed in God's love. May your family and friends rely on the same love as we mourn your passing. May God bless your family and I know we will see each other again my beloved friend with God in heaven.
Tom Rose
09/09/2013
Cynthia - I am truely sorry for your loss and I know you will miss him. Just remember that the Lord has a plan for each of us and now is the time for him to feel no more pain but to be happy with the Lord for ever.
Tom
Alicia Alvarado
09/09/2013
Cynthia - You and your family are in my prayers. What a loss for you all, and for your Dad's community. "Yet I call this to mind, and therefore have hope; because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail; they are new every morning."
Lamentations 3:21-23
Alicia