Philip Patrick Sailer

Deacon Philip P. Sailer, 85 of Rock Island, died Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2018 at his home. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10 am on Monday at St. Pius X Catholic Church, Rock Island. Burial is at the National Cemetery, Arsenal Island, where military honors will be presented by Moline American Legion Post 246. Visitation will be 1:30 to 5 pm Sunday at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home and Crematory, 3030 7th Ave., Rock Island, where a rosary will be recited at 1 pm. Memorials may be made to Alleman High School or St. Pius X Catholic Church.

Philip Patrick Sailer was born Jan. 20, 1933 in St. Augustine, Ill., a son of Claire and Margaret Kennedy Sailer. He married Margaret F. “Marge” Tornabane on July 25, 1960 in Fort Dodge, Iowa.

Phil graduated from Marmion Academy in Aurora, Ill., and then attended St. Norbert’s College, Green Bay, Wis. He received his Bachelor and Master’s degrees from Western Illinois University, Macomb. He began his long and distinguished teaching career at St. Edmond’s Catholic High School in Fort Dodge in 1959. Phil and Marge relocated to Rock Island in 1961, where he joined the staff of Alleman High School. During his 47 years at Alleman, Phil taught, coached and served as a counselor. He retired in 2009. He was ordained as a Permanent Deacon for the Diocese of Peoria in 1997 and assigned to St. Pius.

Phil was a US Army veteran serving during the Korean Conflict. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the Allouez Council 658 Knight of Columbus. His life was his family, his church and his students.

Survivors include his wife, Marge; daughters, Mary Jo (Robert) Marriott, Moline, Lisa (Scot) Wilkins, Bettendorf, Christine Vretis, Moline, and Patty Aldridge, Bettendorf; grandchildren, Brianne (Matt) Barr, Zachary Neuerburg, Brooke Marriott, Baylee Marriott, Andre Marriott, Sam Wilkins, Luke Wilkins, Angelica Vretis, Annalise Baird and Philip Baird; great grandson, Maxwell Barr; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Sister Andre Sailer, Ann Pica and Kathleen Boone; and his brother, Thomas Sailer.

The family wishes to express their gratitude to Heartland Hospice for the compassionate care given to Phil.

Online condolences may be left at wheelanpressly.com.

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