SIOUX CITY -- Mahlon R. Phillips, 71, of Lawton, Iowa, formerly of Sioux City, died suddenly at his home on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2008.
Services will be 10:30 a.m. Monday at Morningside Lutheran Church, with the Rev. Tom LaVon officiating. Interment will be in Omaha Valley Cemetery, Homer, Neb., with military graveside rites. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with a Masonic service at 7 p.m., conducted by Triangle Masonic Lodge and Morningside Masonic Lodge, at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Homes, 1801 Morningside Ave.
Mahlon was born on Sept. 30, 1937, in Sioux City, the son of Wayne and Pauline (Nelson) Phillips. He was a lifetime resident of Sioux City until the last few years, when he moved to rural Lawton with his daughter and her family. He graduated from East High School in 1956, and later worked to get his college degree, graduating from Morningside College in 1982. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving in Vietnam and retired from the Army National Guard in 1976 as a major. He was a U.S. Army Ranger and was awarded two Bronze Stars in the Vietnam conflict.
On Feb. 7, 1957, he married Dorothy Loomis in Sioux City. She passed away on Sept. 23, 1994, in Sioux City. He worked more than 40 years as a letter carrier in Sioux City. He was a member of the National Association of Letter Carriers since 1956 and a past president; a member of the National Safety Club and the Million Mile Club through the U.S. Postal Service.
He was also a member of the National Guard Association; Executive Board for International Order of Rainbow Girls; Past Worthy Patron of Order of Eastern Star, Chapter 502; Morningside American Legion Post 632; a former member of the V.F.W. and Junior Chamber of Commerce; Past Master and member of Triangle Masonic Lodge 643, A.F. & A.M.; a member of Morningside Lodge 615, A.F. & A.M.; the Abu Bekr Shrine, Sioux City Consistory and the Abu Bekr Hospital Dads.
He is survived by two daughters, Kim and Randy Rathman of Lawton, and Cindy and Chris Buchanan of Sioux City; five grandchildren, Brandyn and Zachary Rathman; Cody, Calvin and Cameron Buchanan; and a sister, Louise Fetterman of Moville, Iowa; his stepmother, Ruth Phillips of Sioux City; and a stepsister, Robin and her husband, Ed Schmidt of Sergeant Bluff..
He was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; and two brothers, Duane and Mark Phillips.
A memorial has been established in his name for the Abu Bekr Shrine Hospital Transportation Fund.