William Phillips

Hastings resident, William Glenn "Bill" Phillips, 96, passed away peacefully on May 31, 2016.

A celebration of Bill's life will be held Friday, July 8, 2016, beginning with visitation at 9:30 A.M. at Butler Volland Chapel, Hastings followed by a celebration of Bill's life at 10:00 and lunch with the family at 11:30. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to Crossroads Center, 702 West 14th Street, Hastings, Nebraska 68901. There will be no viewing.

A longtime resident of Hastings, "Bill" was a successful businessman and entrepreneur. He was born in Mankato, Kansas on April 14, 1920 and grew up in Lincoln, Nebraska. Some of his happiest memories were of working on a cattle ranch in the Sandhills as a teenager. Bill was a First Lieutenant in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II and served as an air-traffic controller stationed at Bolling Field in Washington, D.C. Following the war, he returned to Lincoln where he was vice president of Tiney's Electric Company. In 1954 he joined Dutton-Lainson Company where he served as senior vice president with responsibility for the electrical and plumbing divisions for many years. His lifelong interest in boating led him to a second career as owner and president of EBKO Industries, a manufacturer of ski, family and fishing boats. Bill, a proud and loving father and grandfather whose grandsons called him "Big Boat Bill," was much enjoyed by all for his sharp wit, pointed sense of humor and never-ending zest for doing business.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents and his brother, Kevin Phillips.

He is survived by his wife Marjorie. Bill was preceded in death by his first wife, Florence, and is survived by their daughters, Maureen Phillips, Cynthia Phillips Engers, Terri Phillips (John) Arnold, and Mary Phillips; grandsons, John (Sarah) Engers and Michael (Anna) Engers; and sister, Rose Maureen (Lewis) Brannon; and Marjorie's children, Kelly (Douglas) Sejkora and Kris Steiger.