Phil Kassinger

Phil Kassinger, age 57 of Sugar Grove passed away Sunday, April 17, 2016 at his home surrounded by his loving family.

Phil was born October 17, 1958, in Poplar Bluff, MO, the son of Kenneth and Linda (Macon) Kassinger.

Phil’s mother and father would soon part ways, but fate smiled upon Phil when John Harter came into their lives. He seamlessly slid into the father figure that Phil came to treasure, quickly transferring the title of John to “dad.”

Phil grew up in Sugar Grove and attended local schools. He graduated with the class of 1978 from Kaneland High School.

Phil heard the call of his country and enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. He faithfully served his country and held the rank of Lance Corporal before his honorable discharge in 1982.

Phil returned to civilian life, and continued the work he started before the service, namely farming for the Lorenze family. Before and after school Phil would tend to the animals and fields. He was happy to return to farmstead after the service. Phil became very close to his “adoptive family” and the love, respect and admiration was reciprocated in spades.

Phil met Becky at a local hot spot while Becky was on a blind date….with someone else. As it happened, the blind date was not going very well and fate worked once again in Phil’s favor as he caught Becky’s eye. It turned out that she caught his heart as well and soon thereafter, wedding bells began to ring. They were united in marriage on April 15, 1989. They began their new life together in Carol Stream for a time before moving to North Aurora a year later. They quickly made their house a home but something was missing. The children they wanted to raise together didn’t come about the way they had planned. When nature didn’t accommodate their wishes, they chose to nurture many more children, giving them a heart to love and home to live, making many foster children’s dreams come true. Four of the many children to come through their care, were adopted and given a forever home. They soon built a home in Lake Holiday before moving back to Sugar Grove in 2004.

In order to care for his growing and changing family, Phil worked at Arlington Race Track as a mechanic. His talents also took him to Cress Creek Country Club where he worked for twenty-two years making sure every vehicle and machine continued to run like clockwork.

Hunting and fishing but most important in his life was his family. His hunting grounds ranged from local areas, Southern Illinois and Missouri, with game as small as a pheasant to as big as a deer. His favorite fishing hole was any body of water he could cast his line into, but the river held a special place in his heart. Phil’s hands were never idle and when they weren’t wrapped around a wrench, you could find him tinkering in the garage or making his lawn and gardens fit for a magazine. The family would also go on camping trips together, making memories every time they gathered around the fire.

He is survived by his loving wife of 27 years, Becky Kassinger; four children: Misty (Philip May) Kassinger, Casey Kassinger, Cindy (David Scaramelli) Kassinger and Kevin Kassinger; three grandchildren: Thomas, Landon and Logan; four siblings: Ken (Karla) Kassinger, Tim (Karen) Kassinger, Nina (Steven) Saindon and Teresa Givens; many nieces, nephews, a very special mother-in-law, Carol Birch and a family of friends.

He is preceded in death by his parents, John and Linda Harter and his maternal grandparents, Jerome and Nina Bradley.

A visitation will be from 4:00 – 6:00 PM Friday, April 22, 2016 at Conley Funeral Home. A memorial service will be at 6:00 PM Friday at the funeral home. Private family internment will take place at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established in Phil’s name to benefit his favorite charities. Checks may be made to the “Phil Kassinger Memorial” and mailed in care of P.O. Box 66, Elburn, 60119. Tributes may also be forwarded to the same address, Conley Funeral Home Facebook Page or on the web at www.conleycare.com.