Phil Begole

Phil Begole, 74 of Pana, Illinois died Friday, January 5, 2024 at 11:20 PM at Decatur Memorial Hospital, Decatur, Illinois. Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, January 15, 2024 at 10:00 AM in St. Patrick’s Catholic Church, Pana, Illinois with Fr. Joseph Havrilka and Fr. D. Patrick Gibbons co-officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, January 14, 2024 from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM at Kennedy & Sons Funeral Home in Pana. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery, Pana Township, Illinois. Phil was a loyal and generous supporter of several Pana organizations, and the family has asked that you would please consider donating to one or more of the following in Phil’s memory: AAMP, Loving Arms Pregnancy Center, Pana Fire Department, Pana Police Department, and Sacred Heart School. Phil was born July 27, 1949 in Pana, Illinois to Francis and Eva (maiden name Schaefer) Begole. He attended Sacred Heart Grade School and Pana High School, where he graduated with the Class of 1967. Phil went onto Kaskaskia Community College before enlisting in the United States Army in August, 1969. He served in Germany and Vietnam. After his honorable discharge in April, 1972 he returned to the family farm. He grew corn, wheat, and soybeans and ran a cow-calf operation for several years. Phil made it a point in his life to treat others as he would want to be treated. He was an honest, hard-working farmer. He was especially proud of doing a major improvement on the farm property by having the fields tiled. He worked hard on soil conservation. Phil loved being with family, especially his wife and best friend, Peggy, their children, Maria and Christopher, and grandsons, Sam and Leo. Phil married Peggy Molloy at St. Francis Xavier Church in Jerseyville, Illinois on August 1, 1981. Phil was a member of St. Patrick’s Parish where he was a lector for thirty years and one of the committee chairmen for the Annual Chicken Dinner for over a dozen years. Phil retired in 2010 because of increasing weakness from cancer treatments, yet he continued to be as actively involved in the farm operation as much as possible. He was an avid reader of many farm publications, keeping informed on a variety of agricultural issues. He also studied the United States Marine Corps involvement in the Pacific Theater during World War II, especially the battles of Guam, Okinawa, Iwo Jima, and Peleliu. Phil is survived by Peggy, his wife of 42 years, daughter Maria McRaven of Houston, Texas, and grandsons Sam and Leo McRaven, both of Houston, nephew James Denbow, niece Janet Denbow, great-nephew David Denbow and his son Gabe, great-niece Kim Denbow and her children Athena and Xavier. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Chris in 2004, sister Ruth Denbow, niece Beth Denbow, and great-great-niece Ava Denbow. Phil truly appreciated his many friends with whom he enjoyed coffee and good conversation through the decades at local fertilizer businesses, most recently at FS in Millersville.

Phil Begole

July 27, 1949 - January 5, 2024