Obituary for
Phillip J Slinger Sr.
Phillip John Slinger, 83, beloved husband, dad, brother, and grandpa, died December 11, 2017, at Wyndemere Care Center, Allouez. He was born September 16, 1934, in the town of Springvale, Columbia County, WI, to Marion (Dodge) and Chester Slinger. Phil grew up in Cambria, WI, graduating from Cambria High School in 1952. In 1957, he received his degree in Industrial Arts from UW-Platteville, followed by six months of active duty in the U.S. Army Reserves. Phil accepted a teaching opportunity at the Wisconsin State Reformatory (name later changed to GBCI) in 1958. He received his master’s degree in Industrial Education in 1964 from UW-Stout, leading to subsequent positions at the Reformatory as guidance counselor and Education Director. Phil often joked that he served a lifetime sentence at the Reformatory. He attempted to retire in 1993; his announcement took his co-workers by surprise, and no one was prepared for his departure. Ensuing requests for his expertise persuaded him to stay on a bit longer until a replacement director could be found.
Phil was an enthusiastic sports fan, cheering on his favorite Wisconsin teams — Braves, Brewers, Badgers and Packers. Phil was fortunate to secure Packer season tickets in 1959, before the long waiting list began. He rarely missed a home game until health issues in recent years prevented him from attending.
It was at a Milwaukee Braves game on July 4, 1956, where he met Marilyn Waterworth. They were married in April 1960, and settled into their forever home in Allouez. Four children joined the family, and Phil and Marilyn were loving, involved, and active parents. Marilyn was diagnosed with MS in the early 1960s, devastating news to a young couple. Phil stepped up to the challenge and was Marilyn’s number one supporter, exemplifying the characteristics of a devoted and faithful husband throughout their forty-nine years of marriage. Marilyn died in 2009. MS fundraising efforts were important to Phil; he could be found lovingly pushing her wheelchair at many local MS walks, with loyal companion dog Sandy at their side.
Phil enjoyed classical music, Hitchcock and mystery movies, the Beau Geste series of books and movies, and musicals, his favorite being The Music Man. His passion was genealogy, and he became the family historian. Phil and Marilyn spent much of the 1960s and 1970s researching and compiling the history of the Dodge family, culminating in the 1976 publication of Ancestors and Descendants of John Dodge. A second volume followed in 1979. Cemeteries, courthouses and historical societies around the country were frequent destinations for Phil in his quest for family information. He was thrilled with recent advances in DNA testing that validated his work linking ancestors and descendants. A favorite phrase of his was “So many ancestors, so little time.”
In December 2013, Phil married Betty Spranger, who survives him. Phil is also survived by his four children — Lynn (Ki) of Madison, PJ (Jana) of Madison, Andy (Terry) of Minneapolis, and Nikki (Justin) of Plymouth, MN; seven grandchildren — Evan and Aaron Moller, Cassidy, Zachary and Dane Slinger, and Vivian and Juliet Schroeder; three sisters — Sherry Bornick, Eleanor (David) Layton, and Jeannette Jones; a sister-in-law, Jane (Don) Burkhart; an aunt, Jennie Mae Jones; an uncle, John Dodge; and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Marion and Chester Slinger, his step-father David Lloyd, his wife Marilyn, his brother Douglas Slinger, and his cherished dogs Angel and Sandy.
Family and friends may call on Wednesday, December 13, from 4 to 7pm at Cotter Funeral Home, 860 N. Webster Avenue. Visitation will continue at 1pm, Thursday, December 14, 2017 on Thursday, December 14, 2017, at First United Methodist Church, 501 Howe Street, Green Bay with a funeral service to be held at 2:00 P.M. A private burial service will be held at a later date at Rosedale Cemetery, Cambria, WI.
