Fox, Constance May Strommer Phillips

Constance May Strommer Phillips Fox, 86, of 2030 First Ave. NE, Apt. 109, passed on to meet her Lord on July 18, 2010, at the Dennis and Donna Oldorf Hospice House of Mercy, Hiawatha, after a long illness. Services: 11 a.m. Monday, July 26, at St. Mark's Lutheran Church, Marion, by the Rev. Dr. David Hagstrom and the Rev. Alfred Kaupins. Navy Honor Guard will present military honors. Friends may visit after 10 a.m. at the church before the service. Teahen Funeral Home is serving the family.

Connie is survived by her daughter, Cynthia (Terry) Kocher of Marion; her son, Kevin (Gwen) Fox of San Jose, Calif.; three granddaughters, Tricia Tanner of North Liberty, Tracie (Mark) Margretz of Cedar Rapids and Samantha Fox of San Jose, Calif.; a grandson, Elliot Fox of San Jose, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren.

Her son, J. Bradley Phillips, preceded Connie in death.

Connie was born in Wadena, Minn., on Feb. 10, 1924, the oldest of six children, to Elmer and Julie Aaberg Strommer. She served as a WAVE in the United States Navy from 1944 to 1945 as mailperson 3rd class. She attended Winona State Teachers College, graduating in 1949, with a Bachelor of Science degree and teaching certificate for Fine and Industrial Arts. Connie started teaching elementary fifth and sixth grades in 1952 at Lincoln School. In 1961, she was hired to teach art at Arthur School and stayed for 33 years.

Connie was very active in her faith and church life at St. Mark's Lutheran Church. She especially loved the Tuesday morning quilters group and was doing watercolor painting with the Praise Painters of St. Mark's.

Instead of flowers, friends may donate to St. Mark's Quilters or Winona State University.

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