Michael John Phillips, age 76, of La Crosse, WI passed away peacefully on September 09, 2025, at the VA Memory Care Center in Tomah, WI. He was proud to be a Marine.

Mike was born on February 23, 1949, to LaVerne and Leona Phillips. Mike was preceded in death by his parents. His is survived by his three daughters, Tammy (Michael) Houlihan, Tracy (Lisa) Phillips and Joann Bailin. Also surviving are his siblings Tom (Mary) Phillips, Gloria (John) Gaarder, Betty Loging, Mary Boggs and Rose Fredrickson as well as six grandchildren and three great grandsons.

Mike was wed to Debra Brown in 1969. They had two girls, Tammy and Tracy, before their divorce in 1987. He married Linda Arneson in 1988. He made her daughter his own and they raised the three girls together as their family. He and Linda divorced in 2008, but they stayed lifelong friends until his death. She held his hand at the end. He married Nancy Kenyon in 2015 and divorced in 2017.

Mike’s passion was golfing. He loved coming home and telling us about the quarters he took off the guys. We would also like to thank his golfing buddies for taking care of him on the course the last couple of years as his memory was failing him. He still had fun and could still hit that ball a mile. Also, thanks to all of his other friends who enriched his life.

A special thank you goes out to Linda and Joe Kane who cared for him for the past few years when he needed help. Even though he and Linda were divorced, they stayed close. Her husband, Joe, became Mike’s best friend. You seldom saw any of them without the others. People started calling them “the three amigos”.

Also, a huge thank you goes out to the staff at the VA Memory Care Center. They gave him the best care we could have ever asked for. His favorite nurse, Sue, gave him care, laughs and joy. Thank you.

A Celebration of Life will be held at the Coulee Region Cremation Group in Onalaska, WI on Tuesday, September 16 from 11 am to 1 pm. Please bring your fondest memories and stories to share as we celebrate Mike’s life.

Coulee Region Cremation Group is assisting the family during this difficult time.