William Z. "Bill" Phillips

William Z. “Bill” Phillips, 89, passed away peacefully in medicated sleep on May 29, 2026, in Lee’s Summit, Missouri, ten days after suffering a hip injury. True to his social spirit, his final days at his apartment at The Princeton Senior Living were filled with visits from a continuous stream of family, friends, residents, and staff. While his family always knew Bill was well-liked, they were profoundly moved and comforted by the overwhelming outpouring of love and affection from everyone who knew him.

A Life Well-Built and Well-Lived

Bill was born on November 30, 1936, to Yale and Clarice (Price) Phillips. He grew up in Prairie Village, Kansas, graduating from Shawnee Mission North High School in 1954. As a child, he briefly lived in Los Angeles while his father worked on a construction project—perhaps sparking Bill's own lifelong passion for building.

From 1956 to 1960, Bill proudly served his country as an Air Force Air Traffic Controller. Following his service, he dedicated more than 35 years of his life as a skilled carpenter and superintendent, joining Carpenters Local 61 in 1961 and retiring on April 1, 1998. He took immense pride in his craftsmanship; as his niece Denise recalled, no man ever looked more elegant in a hard hat, or was prouder to show off his construction sites. Bill believed in education and lifelong growth, earning his Associate of Arts from Longview Community College in 1972 and his Bachelor’s in Business Administration from UMKC in 1975, all while working and raising his family. After he retired he found a passion for bowling, and continued to show his love for the sport for more than 15 years.

Faith and Community

Bill’s faith was a cornerstone of his life. He formally joined the Catholic Church at the Easter Vigil in 1979 at St. Xavier in Junction City, Kansas. He went on to become a pillar of St. Matthew Apostle Catholic Church in Kansas City for over 50 years until its closing in 2020. At St. Matthew, Bill served on numerous committees, worked as the parish construction liaison during renovations, and served as an usher and greeter for five decades. He loved the community, coaching youth football for nearly 10 years, coaching CYO softball, working the parish picnics, and cooking for the pancake breakfasts with the "Liar's Club."

His dedication to others extended far past the church walls. Following his retirement, Bill delivered Meals on Wheels for 20 years and volunteered at Vacation Bible School for another two decades. He was also a devoted son and son-in-law, visiting his mother weekly for over 10 years in her nursing home until she passed at age 97, and caring deeply for his mother-in-law, Florence.

The Entertainer with a Golden Heart

To know Bill was to laugh. He possessed a wonderful, situational sense of humor and a gift for sharp, sarcastic—but never snarky—facial expressions and commentary. He was a natural entertainer who wasn’t afraid of a bit of physical comedy to get a laugh, even if his antics occasionally caused anxiety for his beloved wife, Ginny. Whether he was standing on his head in the living room after a long day of work, walking across (and falling off) boulders in a stream, or crashing a stranger's limo just to congratulate the newlyweds, Bill brought adventure wherever he went.

He never met a sample at Hyvee and Costco he wouldn't try, and he famously taught his young nephew Mike that the only correct way to eat a pork chop was to ditch the fork and use your hands. Bill never forgot a face, once stunning his son Zack by recognizing a Midwest college friend from 40 years prior while riding a cable car in San Francisco.

Bill was a master handyman, described by his sister-in-law Debi as "the kind of man every woman dreams of marrying." He used those skills to help anyone in need. He helped Zack build a model of the Great Pyramid in grade school and later built furniture for his apartment. His daughter-in-law, June, fondly remembers a simple closet door repair turning into a masterclass in craftsmanship, where Bill taught her that there was one right tool for every job—and about a dozen wrong ones.

Even on his deathbed, Bill’s innate compassion shone through as he selflessly asked visitors how they and their families were doing. In his final years at The Princeton, he could often be found enthusiastically playing beach ball and spreading joy to his neighbors.

Family Legacy

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Yale and Clarice Phillips; his beloved son, Kevin Phillips; his mother-in-law, Florence Tietjen; his siblings, Jerry Phillips, Jim Phillips (and wife Sharon), and Joan Qualls; and his brother-in-law, Ron Johnson.

He leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and structure. He is survived by his devoted wife of 62 years, Ginny (Tietjen) Phillips of Lee’s Summit, MO; his son, Zack Phillips, and daughter-in-law, June Solomon; his sister, Barbara Johnson; his brothers-in-law, Bill Qualls, Neil Tietjen (Debi), and John Tietjen (Debbie); his sister-in-law, Roylene Phillips; his honorary grandson, Jordan Locke; and a multitude of nieces, nephews, grand-nieces, and grand-nephews—including those who proudly bestowed upon him his favorite title: "Silly Uncle Billy."

The world has lost a bright, beautiful light, but Bill is finally at rest, undoubtedly sharing a joke, a pork chop, and a long-awaited reunion with his son, Kevin.

To honor Bill's life, a Visitation will be held on Friday, June 5th, 2026 starting at 10:00am at Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church, 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee's Summit, MO 64081. A Mass of Christian Burial will immediately follow starting at 11:00am. In lieu of flowers, we suggest making a donation to one of the following organizations in Bill's honor:

Our Lady of the Presentation Catholic Church - 130 NW Murray Rd., Lee's Summit, MO 64081

St. Michael the Archangel Catholic High School - 2901 Lee's Summit Rd., Lee's Summit, MO 64064

Breakthrough T1D (Diabetes Research Foundation) - 200 Vesey St., 28th Floor, New York, NY 10281