Phillip E. Frey, age 85, of Polo, Il passed away August 19, 2024, at Serenity Home in Oregon, IL surrounded by loved ones after a courageous battle with multiple myeloma.
Born July 21, 1939, he was the eldest of three children of Ervin and Lavonne (Byrd) Frey. He married Jean (Frey) Frey on July 2, 1966, at Emmanuel UMC (Polo) and recently celebrated 58 years together.
After graduating from Polo High School in 1957, he began a 55-year career in farming. In 2013, he retired after many plantings, harvests, livestock raising, and hours of happy family memories on the farm. Within this career, he also served in the U.S. Army from 1962-1964.
Phil enjoyed many hobbies throughout his lifetime including fishing at Westlake as well as in Cable, WI with the Byrds, singing in the Rock River Valley Barber Shop Chorus, playing the accordion, playing countless card games, and solving sudoku and crossword puzzles. There was also a time where he and Jean enjoyed ballroom dancing together. He had many fun times of going bowling, playing kittenball, playing baseball, waterskiing, and going camping. As a farmer at heart, he also loved being involved with 4-H, FFA judging teams, woodworking projects, and tinkering around while keeping his tractors and machinery running.
Being his grandkids’ personal fan club was also something that marked his life in a huge way. Whether it was a music recital or sporting event, he was in the crowd cheering them on. He had been known to yell ‘encouraging’ words at the refs when they needed his help at various games.
Husband, Dad, and Papa were some of his favorite titles. He loved seeing everyone together at family gatherings, and celebrating the births of his children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren brought him so much joy. He and Jean felt blessed with a wonderful life to have built together.
He also had a passion for serving the Lord within the local church. He was a member of Emmanuel UMC and later Faith UMC, where he was on the Finance Committee, an Ad Board Chairman, Choir Member, Usher, Adult Sunday School Class Teacher, and CROP Walker. He also served on the NIC Board of Ordained Ministry for 12 years. He even served on the work crew that built the EUB Church (Now Faith UMC).
His servanthood lifestyle overflowed into many other committees outside of the church as well. He enjoyed the Shannon and Polo Lions Clubs for 54 years, the Ogle County Farm Bureau where he served as Pine Creek Director and President for 11 years, the Polo School Board for a total of sixteen years (10 of which he was elected President), the Polo Food Pantry taking trips to Bloomington, and the Sunshine Singers.
He is survived and dearly missed by his wife Jean, son Jeff (Melissa), and daughter Jennifer (Lonny) Davison, grandchildren Jared (Karly) Frey, Seth Bothe, Karlea Frey, Lindsey and Wyatt Davison, great grandchildren Paisley and Cooper Frey, sister Elaine Kilday, brother Tom (Lawana) Frey, and many cousins, nieces, and nephews.
A Celebration of Life is scheduled for August 30th at 11:00am at Faith UMC, Polo. Visitation is from 9:30 to 11:00am with burial following at Chapel Hill Gardens, Dixon. Memorials may be directed to Ag in the Classroom (Ogle County FB), Polo Schools Foundation, Serenity Home and Hospice, and Faith UMC, Polo.
Condolences may be sent to pffh.condolences@gmail.com.
