James Dean Phillips

James Dean Phillips was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma February 10, 1938 to Yale and Clarice Phillips. Jim passed away on January 21, 2022 at the age of 83 in the Omaha area. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, Sharon Elder Phillips, two sons, Jeffrey D. Phillips (Liliana) and Steven Y. Phillips (Linda), along with his two older brothers, Jerry (Roylene) and Bill (Ginny) Phillips and two younger sisters, Barbara Phillips Johnson (Ron) and Joanie Phillips Qualls (Bill). Also, he is survived by his grandchildren, Jeff’s children, Ashley Phillips Ramirez (Guillermo), Sydney Phillips and Maia Phillips, along with Andrew Miano (Liliana’s son) and Steve’s children, Nicholas (Sarah) and Julia Phillips Keller (Weston) and Jacqueline Phillips. Jim has five great granddaughters, Sienna and Gianna from Ashley, Ada and Cleo from Nick and Elle from Julia. Jim’s legacy will be embraced and cherished by all his loved ones carrying his memories and love throughout their lives.

Jim’s family, friends and faith were the core of his life. Jim was known as a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather with pride of family being very apparent. His gentle disposition and friendly, kind heart was his defining character, known simply as a happy man to all he met. His sons and grandchildren all cherished their role model as a humble man of integrity, faith, respect and dignity that walked the walk with keeping life simple. His other life appreciations were golf, bowling, Chiefs football and Royals baseball. He and Sharon moved to Omaha, Nebraska to be close to family in 2014 after living in Stilwell, Kansas and the Kansas City area most of their lives.

Jim worked for Kansas City Life Insurance Company for 37 years as the manager of real estate investments participating in softball, bowling and golf leagues, retiring in 1995. After this, he worked for a very good friend, Tom Shyver, at Royal Mechanical Services in Stilwell, Kansas with 3 separate “retirements” with the last in 2001.

He was the president of Overland Park Community Church in Stanley, Kansas for many years and served as a Deacon and board member, along with volunteering as the president of the Kansas City Water Garden Society providing education, tours and gifts of water features to the community. He worked hard and took great pride in everything he accomplished with accolades on his yard, his church support and volunteer efforts.

Growing up, he was very involved with his father and brothers achieving Life Scout and Order of the Arrow while traveling to Philmont Camp in New Mexico and acting as a Senior Scout. Jim’s parents and family moved from Oklahoma to Texas, to California and to their final family location in the Kansas City area. He graduated High School at Shawnee Mission High School (North).

Jim passed away peacefully with his family around most of the week and day at Oxbow Assisted Living in Ashland, Nebraska. In a very short time, he was a favorite of the staff and residents with his friendly and caring ways even as dementia became a greater challenge.

Services in celebration of Jim’s life will be held at Roeder Mortuary, 11710 Standing Stone Dr. in Gretna, Nebraska on January 29th at 11:30a.m. with the Visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Out of respect for everyone’s health and safety, we will be asking visitors to wear masks and social distance as much as possible. Unfortunately, we will not be having a meal after the funeral due to this as well. Jim’s wife, children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will be there to honor him.

The family welcomes donations to JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation) at https://www2.jdrf.org or Alzheimer’s at www.act.alz.org

Service can be viewed on Roeder Mortuary Facebook page for our Gretna location.