Phillip "Phil" Leon Martinek
Phillip “Phil” Leon Martinek, 89, of Springfield, died at 3:48 pm, Sunday, November 3, 2013 at Regency Nursing Care Residence. He was born December 18, 1923 in Kansas City, Kansas to Harley L. and Evelyn Marie Shaw Martinek, and they preceded him in death. He married Charlotte Butler Mathis in 1953 and she preceded him in death in 1979. He married Lucille C. Black Allen in 1980 and she survives.
Also surviving are two step-sons, George Mathis of Las Vegas, NV and Charles “Chuck” R. (Lynn) Allen of Springfield; one sister, Norma Jean Palmer of Bonner Springs, KS; several grandchildren and great grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.
Phillip grew up in Bonner Springs, KS, and graduated from Bonner Springs High School in 1941. He attended Kansas University.
He was a U.S. Navy Veteran serving in World War II from March 30, 1943 – April 3, 1946 and also during the Korean War for July 21, 1950 to October 27, 1951.
Phil was a member of First Christian Church, Disciples of Christ and served as a church elder, moderator, and trustee, he also sang in the choir.
He worked for Aetna Insurance Company for over 30 years and retired in July 1982. He then worked for First Financial Insurance for eight years and retired again, but remained as a Board of Director until early 2013.
He was a former member and past president of the Springfield Golden K Kiwanis; and was a member of the Lincolnland Stroke Support Network and a member of the Springfield Camera Club.
He served as a “Red Coat” and volunteered for Memorial Hospital for 24 years. He bowled for several years on many bowling leagues. He loved to fish at his vacation home on Lake Petersburg.
Phil loved to travel. He, with the help of his wife, Lucille, presented many programs at the Illinois State Museum on their world travels.
Visitation: 10-11:30 am, Thursday, November 7, 2013 at First Christian Church, 700 South 6th Street, Springfield.
Funeral Service: 11:30 am, Thursday, November 7, 2013 at First Christian Church, 700 South 6th Street, Springfield, with Pastor Rick Irwin officiating. Burial will follow at Camp Butler National Cemetery, where the Sangamon County Interveterans Burial Detail will conduct Military Honors.
Memorial contributions may be made to First Christian Church, 700 South 6th Street, Springfield, IL 62703 or to the Lincolnland Stroke Support Network, 3233 Mathes Road, Springfield, IL 62711.
Eydee Schultz/John Woods posted on 11/5/13
Dear Lucille: Reading today's newspaper to discover Phil's passing brought grief and sadness, yet I smile for the wonderful memories I have about Phil. He was an amazing man who cared, loved, befriended and supported so many community interests. Lucille, it was apparent through conversations that he loved you so much. I remember meeting Phil at a Golden K meeting after he found out about Camp Care-A-Lot and graciously invite me to speak. He befriended us both immediately. (He even made sure that other local Kiwanis did too.) He was devoted to Kiwanis, wearing his hat proudly to represent them. I have slides of him with Camp Care-A-Lot kids at Grandparent's Day. I always cherished those pictures and will so do forever. Phil was generous in heart, support, love, friendship and kindness. His memory of personal activities of mine or about camp was impeccable. He never failed to ask about something he found out previously when we saw each other. John and I are proud to have known such a great man, whose family, community, activities and friends were of utmost importance to him. Something you may not know is that it is largely because of him that the Camp Care-A-Lot Grandparent's Day came about. (It was Senior Day until he, one day, asked me about when the Grandparent Day was). He heard about the idea, embraced it and immediately volunteered himself, you and other wonderful Golden K's. It was important to him to do something for and be a role model to very young children and he was just that. He remembered the kids with whom he was partnered and always stayed until the end to gather up any of the left over Placemats from the premises so kids knew their gifts had a "home". Seeing him volunteer at the hospital was heartwarming, too. It was great to visit around your birthday. Our plan was to visit on his 90th, too. I loved Phil. John and I will cherish his memory always. He had a larger than life heart and even bigger smile. He is already missed. We send condolences.