PHILIP ROBERT TAYLOR

Philip R. Taylor, 78 of Plymouth MN formerly of Devils Lake ND passed away on Sunday, November 27, 2011 at his home in Plymouth. Mass of Christian Burial for Philip will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, Devils Lake on Friday, December 2, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. Fr. Jason Asselin will celebrate the Mass and burial will be in the Devils Lake Cemetery. Military Honors will be accorded by the Neathery-Simensen Post #756, Devils Lake Veterans of Foreign Wars and the North Dakota Military Funeral Honors Team. Visitation will be held at the Gilbertson Funeral Home, Devils Lake on Thursday from 3:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a Rosary and Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m. The Rosary will be led by the Knights of Columbus. Philip Robert was born on February 24, 1933 at rural Crary, ND, the son of Robert and Rosalie (Van Steenvoort)Taylor. He was raised in the Crary/Devils Lake area and graduated from St Mary’s Academy in 1951. In high school, Phil was very active. He served as one of the editors-in-chief and co-business manager of the yearbook his senior years. He also served on the Student Council and played basketball and football. After high school, Phil joined the United States Army and served his country in Germany working on a mortar crew. Phil was united in marriage to Janet Moritz on March 3, 1957 at Devils Lake. They established their home in Grand Forks for a short time, then returned to Devils Lake where they began farming, ten miles east of Devils Lake; close to where he was born. They lived, worked side by side and raised their family through the years. He served as a volunteer fireman and when he retired from farming, worked at Home of Economy. In 1991 they moved to Plymouth, MN where they had since made their home. While living in Plymouth, he worked in a grocery warehouse for Minter Weismann. Phil enjoyed gardening and watching a variety of sports on TV. He was a member of the Knights of Columbus and the Devils Lake Elks Lodge. Phil was a devoted husband and father. Heaven is a better place with him in it. Phil is survived by his loving family. His children Steven Taylor of Minneapolis, Susan and her husband Dennis Sigvaldson of Brooklyn Park and John Taylor of Plymouth; granddaughter, Samantha Green of Wahpeton ND; sister Mary Ann (Donald) Steffan of Mesa AZ and several nieces, nephews and their families. Phil was preceded in death by his wife, Janet on January 30, 2009; his parents, Robert and Rose; daughter, Theresa Taylor; and sister, Virginia Taylor.