Himebaugh, Phil

Phil Himebaugh, 86, died peacefully Sunday, Jan. 9, 2011, at his home surrounded by his family. Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, at the First Presbyterian Church, Monticello, with interment in the Oakwood Cemetery. The Rev. Al Polito will officiate at the services. Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Goettsch Funeral Home, where a Masonic service will be conducted by Burns Lodge.

Thoughts, memories and condolences may be left at

Memorials may be made to the First Presbyterian Church.

Surviving is his wife, Ione; two children, Patrick (Nancy) of Ripon, Wis., and Janet (Daniel) Thole of Strawberry Point; seven grandchildren, Kimberly Forseth, Brett (Kim) Himebaugh, Ashley and Amanda Himebaugh, Jason Thole and special friend, Billie Jo, Julie (John) Uhlenkamp, Crystal Thole and special friend, Seth; two great-grandchildren, Daneil Forseth and Bailey Himebaugh; his sister, Lois Hoeriger of Pacific Palisades, Calif.; a sister-in-law, Ramona Melchert of Hopkinton; a brother-in-law, Melvin Stadtmueller of Monticello; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Arthur Phillip Himebaugh was born August 20, 1924, at Hopkinton, Iowa. He was the son of Arthur Perry and Vena Gearhart Himebaugh. Phil graduated from the Hopkinton High School in 1942 then continued his education at Lenox College until he entered the U.S. Army during World War II. He was stationed in the Aleutian Islands until 1944. Phil returned home from service and then married Ione Bacon on Jan. 19, 1947, at the Buck Creek Methodist Church. Phil worked for Doc Krueger at the Sand Springs Creamery and later worked for Jack Smith on the farm. The couple moved to Monticello in 1963, and Phil sold insurance for Farm Bureau and later Kansas City Life. He was associated with Bouslag & Verhille Agency from Marion before partnering with Harlan Hetzler and Shorty Copley to start H-C-H Real Estate in 1967. He sold the insurance business to David Savage in 1978 and the Real Estate business to George Eastburn in 1989. Phil then worked part-time for Roger Stephen delivering cars.

Phil was a life long member of the Presbyterian Church. He was an elder in the Hopkinton Presbyterian Church and later in Monticello. He loved to visit his grandchildren, play golf and go for coffee at Hardees's and Stephen Motors every morning. Phil was a member of the Masonic Lodge and the Lions Club.