Anderson Funeral Home
Homeserving families for over 70 years
312 South Stone St.
Augusta, WI 54722
715-286-2222
Philip Guntner
Philip T. Guntner Sr., 79, of rural Augusta, passed away early Tuesday morning, August 21, 2018 in hospice care at the Dove Healthcare Nursing Home in Osseo.
Philip Thomas Guntner, son of Charles and Alva (Knoebel ) Guntner was born Feb. 19, 1939 in Chicago, IL. He was baptized as a child in Chicago and later confirmed into the Catholic faith. Phil attended Ryder Elementary and Morgan Park High School in Chicago. At the age of 16 he joined the plumber’s union and became an apprentice under his grandfather. After he received his plumber’s license he worked for various plumbers in the Chicago area. On Feb. 8, 1958, Phil was united in marriage to Rolleen Mary Circle at St. Raphael Catholic Church in Chicago. For the next 22 years the couple lived and raised their family in the Chicago area and from 1973 until 1980, Phil operated Guntner and Son’s Sewer and Water Installation. Phil and Rolleen moved to Augusta with their younger children in 1980 when they purchased the Hideaway Bar on Lake Eau Claire, which they operated for 26 years. In 1982 he also established Phil’s Septic Service and operated that until turning the business over to his son Paul in 2001. Phil worked hard all of his life but also cherished the time spent with family and friends. He enjoyed his vegetable gardens, fishing and hunting; especially the many hunting trips to Pennsylvania.
During the years as a bar owner he not only sponsored, but was a participant on the Hideaway’s horseshoe, trap and pool teams. He also enjoyed bowling with Rolleen in a couple’s league. One of his favorite activities was cooking for Hideaway functions and making a weekly meal for his favorite vendors. He also enjoyed his involvement with the Augusta Snowdrifters, Augusta Bass Club and Lake Eau Claire Carp Classics. Phil loved to travel and he and Rolleen had 2 very memorable trips, traveling to Ireland in 2001 and to Germany in 2006. In the later years he looked forward to playing BINGO, reading and occupying the couch when the Wheel of Fortune and the Price is Right was on. Phil was truly blessed with a large family and spending time with all of them meant the world to him. For 27 years he took the time to relax and entertain the family on the annual Guntner camping trip. Even though he considered himself the PITA of the family, he was as loved as anyone could be. Only Phil could bring out a chuckle with his favorite saying “Very-Very Bad.”
Phil will be dearly missed by Rolleen, his loving wife of 60 years; 6 sons, Philip Jr. and Marianne Guntner of Augusta, Thomas and Roxanne Guntner of Oak Forest, IL, Steven and Darcy Guntner, Daniel Guntner, Paul and Julie Guntner, Andy and Tobey Guntner all of Augusta; 3 daughters, Leanne and Howard Wangen of Chippewa Falls, Vicki and Dennis Kinderman of Fall Creek, Margaret Bement and Jacob Yule of Augusta; German daughter, Michele and Kevin Lone of Chanhassen, MN; 33 grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren; brother, Gordon and Corinne Guntner of Bremen, IN;3 sisters, Barbara Bainbridge of Homer Glen, IL, Patricia and John Nystrom of Frankfort, IL, April and Roger Christ of Palos Park, IL; sister-in-law Katherine Brisson of Green Bay; other relatives and many friends. Phil was preceded in death by his son James Guntner on May 9, 1993; parents, Charles and Alva Guntner; Rolleen’s parents, Rolland and Vera Circle; son-in-law, J.R. Bement; and beloved canine companion Pearl.
Visitation will be from 2 to 5 p.m. Sunday at the Anderson Funeral Home in Augusta and from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. Monday at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church – Fairview, rural Fairchild.
Services will be Monday at 11:00 a.m. at the church with burial in the West Lawn Cemetery in Augusta.
Online condolences can be left at www.andersonfhaugusta.com
