Philip Cyril Belongie, 2834 Stoney Beach Street, embarked on his journey home…lakes, were near and dear to him. Philip grew up in Escanaba, Michigan, a lake port, and spent all of his adult life in Oshkosh and 47 years at his home on Stoney Beach.
Born on January 14, 1943 in Daggett, Michigan, Philip would graduate from Oshkosh High School in 1961 and begin an uninterrupted tenure with the Hobart Manufacturing Company, Troy, Ohio. Beginning as a certified repair technician he completed a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin, Oshkosh and was a founding brother of Sigma Pi fraternity-Oshkosh campus. Phil was a sales representative and branch manager in the Oshkosh and Fox River Valley. Forty-three consecutive years of employment with Hobart were completed with special dedication.
Philip was an Army Reservist and completed officer training at Camp Douglas, completing that enlistment as a first lieutenant. An avid fisherman and boat person, his youthful Sea Scout experiences at the Naval Reserves, Menominee Park, set a lifelong enthusiasm for lakes, sailing, ice boating, motor-boating, and fishing.
Philip met his wife of 43 years, Patricia Ruvolo a few doors from his lake home. For the couple, Lake Winnebago was their front yard view and always theirs together to cherish. Phil and Pat were seasoned travelers, planning and enjoying trips to Greece, Turkey, Sicily, Italy and in 2008 a land tour and cruise of Alaska.
Always smitten by collies, Pat and Phil had special memories with JoJo, Prints, Mikey, Freckles, and their present female, Mia.
For the three surviving sisters, Annette (Jeremy) Lys, Berkley, California, Yvonne (Jim) Osborn, Appleton, and Marie (Jeff) Belongie-Kemp, Oshkosh and two brothers, Ray (Kathi) Sunrise, Florida, and Michael (Jane) Beaver Dam, Stoney Beach often served as a setting for family events and celebrations-especially Fourth of July boat cruises to watch fireworks in the bay.
Philip was preceded in death by an infant sister, Cecile and brother David and his parents, Cyril and Anne and numerous uncles and aunts.
In lieu of flowers, memorials will be disbursed to those causes that remain special to Philip and Patricia.
A Memorial Mass will be celebrated on Thursday, August 28, 2014, at 5:00 p.m. in St. Jude the Apostle Parish, St. Vincent Catholic Church, 1225 Oregon Street. A time of visiting and sharing of memories will be held at the church on Thursday from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seefeldfuneral.com.