Arthur Phillip Weygandt

Arthur Phillip Weygandt, age 74, passed away November 22, 2018 at Thornapple Manor, after a two year battle with cancer.

"Phil", the son of Samuel Arthur Weygandt and Zelma (Patterson) was born October 27, 1944 in Long Beach, California.

He was quite a popular teen at school and also at church, Colonial Full Gospel Tabernacle, where he sometimes played his trombone.  "Overshadowed" was his choice of special numbers to play.

Phil attended David Starr Jordan High School, where he played football (half back), and learned gymnastics.  He was pretty good at parallel bars and rings.  Of course it helped that his dad built for him a set of parallel bars at home, where he often showed off by doing handstands.  But surfing was his favorite pastime, before and after being stricken with encephalitis.  Tho this tragedy, as a High School Junior, threatened to ruin his life, Phil overcame the many difficulties of learning to walk and talk and read and write again, with the help of many professional tutors and parents who never gave up hope and love.

Costa Mesa School of Independent Living for Adults was a 9 month/24/7 instructional course that taught Phil to set an egg timer, buy groceries, do laundry, etc.  What a joyous tearful celebration as Phil received that type of diploma of completion in actual cap and gown with his peers of varied life challenges.

Phil was united in marriage to Barbara Smith of Long Beach for 10 years.  A number of friends remained constant and involved him in custom car shows, pow wow's and huge taco dinners.  (his favorite!).  With guidance, Phil was able to work as a painter's helper at Boulevard Buick and Pacific Ford, both in California,  M&M Custom Auto and Jimmy's Auto in Texas.

Phil was blessed with the Weygandt and Patterson artistic genes.  His early whittelings and more recent water color paintings occupied endless hours of independent living.  In fact, most of his first year at "The Manor" he sat at his slanted drawing table painting old hot rods or rural farm scenes.  Funny thing that at the 2017 Barry County Fair, Phil entered his artwork for the first time in his life and was awarded two blue and three red ribbons.

Phil was preceded in death by both of his parents, sister, Millicent Ann (and Dick) Ward, and brother, Glenn Mark Weygandt.

He is survived by his sister, Glenda Joy (Ron) Koutz of Hastings, nephews, Jeff Young of California, Paul (Jody) Koutz of Sparta, David (Caroline) Koutz of Indianapolis, Daniel Koutz of Chicago, nieces, Debbie Lee of Texas, Molly (Isaiah) Bosworth of DeWitt, 10 great nieces and nephews and several great, great nieces and nephews in Texas.

Phil took great delight in the family members, always ready for the next get together.  He loved shopping for the perfect Christmas gifts for the children.  Phil was a help to brother-in-law, Ron, mowing lawns and demo work at their construction sites, but would often steal away with his rod and tackle box to do a little fishing.

The good folks of Colonial, in Long Beach, Assembly of God in Granbury, Texas, Hastings Baptist, and finally Community Baptist of Hastings showed much love and support, offering encouragement to Phil over the years.

Thanks also to Dr. Troy Carlson, Thornapple Manor and Great Lakes Hospice for their compassionate care. Special thanks to Dutch and Vonda Cappon for those weekly "Go Fish" games and all the visits to Phil at Thornapple Manor.

For many years he has expressed his anticipation of getting to Heaven, to join up with old church pals and so many family members, where there'll be a whole lot of joy!  "If you miss me singin' down here,  if you miss me singin' down here, Just take a little walk up to Heaven, and you'll find me singin' up there!   If you miss me shoutin' down here, if you miss me shoutin' down here, Just take a little walk up to Heaven, and you'll find me shoutin' up there!"

A Celebration of Life Gathering was held on Sunday, November 25, 2018 at the Girrbach Funeral Home in Hastings.  In lieu of flowers, please take a moment to reflect on Phil, as well as your loved ones.