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Today we honor the memory of our Board President, Ed Phillips. Ed has been an integral part of Three Rivers for many years. He was elected to the Board in 1990 and has served several terms as Board President providing his special brand of leadership challenging us to get the job done, no nonsense, and do it right.

Ed, you always said no one is irreplaceable. We used to think this was a statement of modesty, but maybe it was a lesson. Learn from others and be the best we can be. Ed, we’ll do our best to “get the job done right”!

We also offer sympathy and thanks to his loving wife and children for all the years they shared him with us. The Phillips family never just supported our mission, they lived it.

Edward "Ed" William Phillips
(March 24, 1953 - May 25, 2013)

Edward “Ed” William Phillips, 60, of Wamego, Kansas passed away Saturday, May 25, 2013 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Ed was born March 24, 1953 in Topeka, Kansas, the son of Cecil and Dorothy (Noll) Phillips. He grew up on the family farm near Valley Falls, Kansas and attended schools in Valley Falls graduating from Valley Falls High School in 1971. After high school Ed attended Kansas State University and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Education. After college Ed began working at St. George High School teaching Ag Ed until 1976 when he began working at the Kaw Valley State Bank in Wamego, while also studying for his Master’s Degree in Agriculture from Kansas State University. After earning his Master’s Degree in 1978 Ed continued to work as a banker for Kaw Valley State Bank for 28 years before he retired as Senior Vice President. On October 21, 1991, Ed was united in marriage to Mary Alice Souther-Kratz in Wamego, Kansas. She survives of their home. Ed was on the Board of Directors for Three Rivers, on the Board of Directors of Frontier Development and was a past member of the Board of Directors at Kaw Valley State Bank of Wamego. He was also a member of the Knights of Columbus and was a member of the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church of Wamego. Ed’s faith in Christ never failed and he was a loving husband and father who was devoted to his family.

Ed is also survived by his mother: Dorothy Phillips; his ten children: Greta Kratz and husband J.T., Ashley Tyler and husband Jonathon, Paul Phillips, Andrew Kratz and wife Jesse, Susan Garcia and husband Randall, Jane Phillips, Helen Phillips, Annie Phillips, Daniel Phillips and David Phillips; eight sisters: Carol, Susan, Mary, Alice, Jean, Kay, Kim and Janet; four brothers: Jim, Bill, Pete and Joe and three grandchildren: Ben and McKenna Tyler and Abby Phillips. He was preceded in death by his father Cecil and twin brothers: Daniel and Dale. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30 a.m., Friday, May 31, 2013, at the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Wamego. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Ed will lie in-state beginning at 1:00p.m., Thursday at the Stewart Funeral Home of Wamego where a Rosary will be recited at 6:00 p.m. followed by a visitation until 8:00p.m. Memorials are suggested to the St. Bernard’s Catholic Church, Three Rivers or PRN Homecare and Hospice and may be left in care of the Stewart Funeral Home, PO Box 48, Wamego, KS 66547.

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Personal Story by Michael Vestal, Mayor of Tonganoxie, KS and 3R Consumer

6/1/2009

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My new life as a quadriplegic began on the late evening of September 9th, 1970. I was just 19 and my hopes of becoming a Deputy Sheriff ended. I was critically injured in a car accident. I was taken to Kansas University Medical Center, where I was in a coma for 2 weeks. The doctors had told my parents to make plans for a funeral, but by the grace of God and my perseverance, I awoke. I spent the next 6 months recovering from my injuries. I made the decision those months that I would not give up and I would make the best of a bad situation. I was released from the hospital and was on a waiting list to enter a rehabilitation center in Kansas City, Mo. I spent a month in rehab learning how to transfer and learned how to better cope with my disability. I never gave up and was always upbeat and was not going o let anything get me down.

I had been home about 6 months and decided I was going to get back in the work force. I was hired at a sheet metal company where I answered the phone and did billing. I was there for a couple years and the new Police Chief in town knew me and knew my passion for law enforcement. He came to me and asked if I would be Tonganoxie’s Police Dispatcher. Of course, He did not have to ask me twice. I finally was given the opportunity to be involved in something I loved. I started in April of 1974, and never looked back. That job created new opportunities. I was asked to also dispatch for the New EMS service and the Southern part of my County. I worked for those two agencies for about 15 years until our county got a 911 service. I still dispatched for Tonganoxie, as I still do today.

In 1978, I received a Law Enforcement achievement award from the Kansas Attorney General. That was a great honor to receive such an award that only a few have received. In 1980 I was given a Youth Service award from the local Sertoma group and in 1992; I was named Citizen of the year, another great honor.

My career has not just been in Law enforcement. I was asked to run for City Council. I ran and won election in 1989 and served for 8 years until 1997. I took a break from politics until 2007 where I was asked to run for Mayor. I won the election in April of 2007 and am currently the Mayor of the City of Tonganoxie.

I have been very fortunate to have a great support group in my life from family and friends. You must never think your life is over because of your disability, but a new beginning to a different life.

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Absolute Inspiration!

Celebrating a Life

Personal Story by Michael Vestal, Mayor of Tonganoxie, KS and 3R Consumer

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