Jeanne Phillips

Jeanne Phillips, 87, of St. Joseph passed away on Thursday, December 8, 2016 at Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 1:00 PM on Wednesday, December 14, 2016, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel & Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph, with Pastor Steve Hartman officiating.  Burial to follow at Lincoln Township Cemetery.  Visitation will be from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday, December 13, 2016 at the funeral home.  Memorials may be made to Berrien County Cancer Service or SWM Humane Society.  Friends wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.  Jeanne was born on February 27, 1929 to Hirim & Alice Lanning in Logan, Ohio.  Growing up, she moved to several states, including California.  Jeanne was the youngest of five sisters who had a musical act called “The Lanning Sisters” where she played the Ukulele.  They were featured on a late night Christian radio program in Long Beach. On April 18, 1948, she married Daniel Phillips at the First Baptist Church in St. Joseph, this year they celebrated 68 years together!  Jeanne worked several places in St. Joseph in addition to raising two sons.  She was the office manager at Berrien County Cancer Services until she retired in 1999.  Jeanne always loved music and made sure it was a part of everyone’s life.  She encouraged her sons to take music lessons and bought them instruments.  She was a big part of the Band & Orchestra Parents Association and never missed one of her son’s performances.  She enjoyed water painting, working on her crossword puzzles, and loved her Oreo cookies.  Jeanne was a very caring and generous person.  She always helped people in need if she could, even to the point sometimes of cutting her own self short on funds.  If she had something that was needed by someone else, they got it!  Jeanne loved to shop!  Many times, she would go to the store with her husband or son and after a few moments they would turn around and she would be gone off shopping to her hearts content.  They eventually found her!  Jeanne loved Christmas, especially decorating and poinsettias.  Jeanne also loved dogs!  Her first dog was a Chow named Penny which she fondly remembered always.  In recent year’s she had Shelties.  She loved to talk about her current one, Merlin telling everyone he is named that because he is a Blue Merle!  She will be greatly missed by her family and all who knew her!! She was preceded in death by her sisters, Velma, Mabel, Marie, Lil, and Dort, as well as a younger brother Roy.  She is survived by her husband Daniel of St. Joseph; two sons Bob and Alan both of St. Joseph and a brother Hirim Lanning Jr. of Oregon, Ohio.