Melvin Phillip of Watkins died Monday, March 12, 2007, at his home following a four-year battle with colon cancer. He was 69. Memorial services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, March 17, at Ertl Funeral Home in Watkins. Friends may call from 4-8 p.m. Friday and 8-10:30 a.m. Saturday at Ertl Funeral Home. Melvin Phillip was born Sept. 23, 1937, in Eden Valley to Paul and Lydia (Neutgens) Phillipp. He served in the U.S. Army in the early 1950s. Melvin married Darlene Brutger May 7, 1960, in St. Gertrude Catholic Church, Forest City. He was a third generation farmer and farmed the family farm from 1962 until retiring in 2003. While farming, Melvin was employed as a truck driver for Alvin Kuechle in Watkins, Pillsbury, 3M, Jason Dry Ice in St. Paul, and for Gator in Sauk Rapids. He also was employed as a cement finisher for Mueller Construction and Marv Bentley Construction in St. Cloud. Melvin’s hobbies included hunting, fishing and playing cards. He especially enjoyed traveling and camping trips with his family. Melvin was preceded in death by his parents and brother-in-law Harold Salzer. Melvin is survived by his wife Darlene Phillipp of Watkins; daughters Nyla Phillipp of Atlanta, Ga., Lori Phillipp of Eau Claire, Wis., Cheryl (and Craig) Bulau of Litchfield, Julie (and Joe) Gromberg of St. Cloud, and Sandy Mackedanz of Watkins; son-in-law Tim Mackendanz of Cold Spring; grandchildren Trinity Pagel of Hutchinson, Cassie Bulau of Boston, Mass., Kyle, Courtney and Kelsey Mackedanz of Watkins, and Nathan Gromberg of St. Cloud; brothers and sisters Lee Salzer of St. Cloud, Kenneth (and Pat) Phillip of Conway, Ark., Harold (and Rita) Phillipp of Prior Lake, Betty (and Marlin) Eich of St. Joseph, Carol (and John) Shaw of Ronneby, Mike (and Kathy) Phillip of St. Joseph; many nieces and nephews.
