Phillips, Ella (1898 1999)

Ella F. Phillips of Waukesha died at the Virginia Health and Rehabilitation Center on Thursday, September 2, 1999 at the grand age of 101 years.

She was born Ella Friess in Thorp, WI on February 23, 1898, and she lived in Clark County most of her life. Her father, Herman Friess, raced harness horses and was a cattle dealer in Rice Lake as well as a meat market operator in Thorp.

Mrs. Phillips and her first husband, Leland W. Nye, farmed in Clark County until 1935. He preceded her in death and she married Everett Phillips who died in 1986. At that time she moved to Brookfield to be near her daughter. She was a member of St. Matthew Ev. Lutheran Church in Wauwatosa.

Surviving are her daughters: Geraldine (the late Joseph) Pari of Brookfield and Shirley (Dr. Donald Cramer) of Tucson, Arizona as well as eight grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren, and a great great-granddaughter. She is also survived by her sister, Gertrude Johnson of St. Paul, MN, other relatives and friends. In addition to her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by brothers: Reinhard and Albert, and sister Minnie.

Funeral services were held at 1:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 8, 1999 at the Thorp Funeral Home, Thorp with Rev. Robert Wilcken officiating. Interment followed at East Thorp Cemetery.

Source: Thorp Courier (Clark County) September 8, 1999