Dennis Roy Phillips

Denny Phillips, 73, of Egg Harbor, passed away peacefully on Monday, Oct. 21, 2024.

He was surrounded by family in his final days and hours. His selfless care for them, his great personality, his strong sense of right and wrong, and his playfulness and quick wit were with him until the end. So, too, was his lifelong determination to do things his own way: Given seven to 10 days to live after he was no longer able to receive dialysis, he made it to day 11.

Dennis Roy Phillips was born June 13, 1951 in St. Charles, Ill., to LeRoy and Jane (Larson) Phillips. He grew up in Geneva, Ill., and graduated from Geneva High School. His father worked for a foundry and then for the post office; his mother worked for the bank. Denny graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stout in 1973 with a degree in hotel and restaurant management, having played on the hockey team and served as a resident assistant.

While he was growing up, his family took annual summer vacations to Lake Content Resort in St. Germain, Wis. He returned there for two summers by himself while in high school, living with and working for the family who owned the resort.

After college, during which he spent a summer with other Stout students managing a resort in Michigan, he began a 45-year career in hospitality. His work included managing Pheasant Run Lodge in St. Charles, overseeing the regional hotel chains Midway Motor Lodges and Dillon Inn, and running The Rushes Resort in Baileys Harbor, where he accepted a job as general manager in 1993 and stayed for 25 years. During his time at The Rushes, he also managed Little Sweden Resort in Fish Creek from its inception in 1998 until 2014.

On June 16, 1990, he was united in marriage to Cynthia (Cindy) Patterson Phillips in Crystal Lake, Ill. They built a beautiful life together for 34 years, including raising their two children, Andrew and Samantha.

Denny was an avid boater and loved time spent on the water on the Chain O’ Lakes (while living in Antioch, Ill.), on Lake Geneva (while living in Williams Bay, Wis.) and, most recently, on the bay of Green Bay and the Great Lakes. He also was a skilled water-skier.

He was an extraordinarily smart businessman, willing to share his knowledge with anyone who asked and unafraid to be honest when he thought something was being done wrong (just ask anyone who presented financial reports to the Village of Egg Harbor’s harbor committee, on which he served for the past several years).

He was skilled in construction and used those skills in overseeing the construction of numerous hotels and resort units, as well as in building the home his family has lived in for almost 30 years.

He loved to play and to watch golf; in retirement, he enjoyed working at The Alpine Golf Course in Egg Harbor. Among his happiest times were those spent captaining his boat, being with family, and watching the Packers.

He was a people person and, most of all, a devoted husband, a loving and supportive father, and a proud grandfather. His kindness, calm and reassuring presence, and generosity of spirit will be deeply missed by his family, his friends and so many who knew him.

Denny was preceded in death by his parents, LeRoy and Jane, and his sister, Kathleen Bentley. He is survived by his wife, Cindy Phillips, son Andrew Phillips, daughter Samantha (Davi) Lacerda, and grandchildren Benjamin and Sarah Lacerda. He also is survived by his parents-in-law, William and Joanne Patterson; by his sisters- and brothers-in-law, Valerie and Jim Brachmann and Amy and Pete Zakoian; and by several nieces and nephews.

His family wishes to thank the outstanding staff members at Bellin Hospital, including nurses Olivia, Michong and Kaitlyn, Dr. Al Shahrouri, chaplain Diane, and Dr. Bowman and his entire team. His family also wishes to thank the staff at DaVita Dialysis Clinic in Sturgeon Bay and Dr. Neu for their care for the past three years.

A celebration of his life will be held on Sunday, Dec. 29, from 4-7 pm at Burton’s on the Green Restaurant at the Alpine Golf Course Clubhouse, 7670 Horseshoe Bay Road, Egg Harbor. The celebration will be an open house; please bring your favorite stories and memories of Denny to share.

In lieu of flowers, donations to the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation would be appreciated: https://pkdcure.org.

Huehns Funeral Home in Sturgeon Bay is assisting the Phillips family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Denny may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.HuehnsFuneralHome.com.

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