Philip J. Magnan

Birth date: Dec 27, 1953 Death date: Jan 22, 2022

Philip J. Magnan, age 68, transitioned Home peacefully in his sleep, Saturday, January 22, 2022, surrounded by love, following the very aggressive return of cancer that was first addressed in 2006. He was born December 27, 1953 in Read Obituary

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Timothy Gallagher

184w ago

Phil and I met in first grade at St. Monica School in Kalamazoo. He switched to Portage Northern and I to Loy Norrix, and the last time I recall seeing him was at a "free concert" that used to be a weekly rock music event in an open field outside of Waldo Stadium in the early 70's. In more recent times we re-met on FB and I got to know the important stuff about him. He was an accomplished muralist and dedicated runner, seemingly entering every event, including marathons, that he could get to, right up until the end, even as he fought cancer. I just now sought to find out why he had not posted in a while.

Melanie Kursinsky (Trail Name, Runway)

186w ago

Phil and I worked together in the early 1990’s at DuPont. We recently reconnected through a mutual friend when I was training to hike the entire Appalachian Trail in 2020. He was so encouraging during my training and while I was hiking the trail in 2021. I’m so sorry Phil’s hiking and trail running days are over. He’s probably whipping the angels into shape in heaven.

Jobie Pool

193w ago

So very sorry to hear of Phil’s passing. He and his wife Susan, came to my brother’s lake house in July of 2015. I had not seen him since I lived in Shannondale. I believe I was 12 or 13. He taught me how to dive and do flips off the diving boards at the community pool. Such a happy time for me. He even taught me to do flips off the high dive. No way could I do any of these flips or dives now. How much I loved my life during these years. So very sorry he left this world. I know he fought cancer at least 3 times. Such a wicked disease! Please keep us posted on his memorial service. I who live in Texas but would make an effort to be there.

Jobie Siegel Pool

Victoria H Magnan

195w ago

I only connected to Phil this past year not knowing he was on Facebook. I connected with him because of the book he wrote about his father, Robert P. Magnan, "Letters from the Pacific Front". He had a great sense of humor and found him as a connection to the Magnan family from Kalamazoo!! I will miss his cantor and humor and I am sad that I really did not have the chance to visit with him personally. I am sorry for the family's loss.

Jim Dutchik

195w ago

I first met Phil nearly 30 years ago when he was working in plastics for DuPont in the Detroit area. His creativity was evident from the first time I met him. His self-discipline and hard fight to recover from cancer was inspirational. He was a good man and will be missed.

Paul Magnan

195w ago

Phil was a cousin. We met when were young kids, at a Magnan reunion. We re-connected on Facebook, and discovered our lineage. We've had some nice private messages over the past couple of years. We were both cancer survivors at that time. I knew this past year his cancer returned and he was doing the best he could with it. Sorry to see that he has passed this mortal coil. Rest in Peace.

Steve Dark

195w ago

I was Phil's good friend in 7th and 8th grade at St. Monica's Catholic Elementary in Kalamazoo. We were on the basketball team - I remember St. Joe's was our bitter rival. We were also neighbors. His Dad would give us rides to practice and rarely say a word - it was only much later that I found out his WWII back story. Phil was fearless and the best athlete in our circle. In our backyard football games he was the guy you dreaded tackling. We spent endless summer days at the community pool ogling the girls, shooting the breeze, and diving. Phil was the best diver there. (I still have psychological scars from trying to emulate his gainer from the high dive.) Once on a dare he nearly circumnavigated the pool walking on his hands. Afterward we often headed over to my house on Trotwood St. and played pick-up basketball in our driveway with neighborhood kids for hours. Good times. He will be missed.

Steve Dark
Chelsea, MI

Cathy Saurman

195w ago

in honor of Philip.

A lighted pale blue candle with a small white flower and a few leaves at its base, set against a soft blue background.

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