In Remembrance

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Phillip W. Hyry

December 5, 1948 - May 4, 2023

Service Date May 8, 2023

Everyone is welcome to attend Phil’s funeral at the Duluth Independent Apostolic Lutheran Church located at  6273 Highway 2 in Cloquet, MN 55720 on Monday May 8th, 2023.  There will be visitation from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m followed by the funeral service at 1:00 with the burial immediately afterwards in the church cemetery with a lunch to follow.

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Beloved father and grandfather Phillip Wade Hyry passed away at the age of 74 on May 4, 2023 at his home in Duluth, Minnesota.  He is preceded in death by his wife Carol and his parents Bill and Elvi Hyry.  Phil is survived by his children Jill (Jacob) Hintsala of Duluth, Minnesota, Bob (Nicole) Hyry, and Kevin (Shylo) Hyry of Ishpeming Michigan, his sister Bettie Ahola of Negaunee, MIchigan, and his brother Will (Caryl) Hyry of Holyoke, Massachusetts.  Phil is also survived by grandchildren Chelsee, Ryan, Ashley, Hadden and Zak Hyry, Asher, Olivia and Isaac Hintsala, Elaina (Jacob) Fronden, and great-grandchildren Brantley, Jameson, Jaxon, Eleanor and Dorothy AND a host of brothers and sisters in faith.

The youngest of three children, Phil was born in Negaunee, Michigan at Twin City Hospital on December 5, 1948.  He graduated from Negaunee High School in 1967 and finished his college degree in teaching secondary education in 1971 at Northern Michigan University.  Phil earned a second Bachelor’s degree in nursing in the mid-1990’s from the College of St. Scholastica in Duluth, Minnesota.

Phil had two sons, Bob and Kevin with his first wife Paulette. Phil married Carol Prusi on February 7, 1976 and adopted her daughter Jill.  They moved to Minnesota in 1981.

Phil spent much of his life and career helping people struggling with substance abuse as a friend, counselor, AA volunteer, and the Director of Chemical Dependency at Moose Lake State Hospital in Minnesota. He even testified before Congress about the need for government-funded rehabilitation services in the American Indian communities during his tenure at the Keweenaw Bay Ojibwa Tribal Community.   Phil wrestled his own demons with substances and found tremendous support within the AA community and by turning to his faith.

Phil worked as a Registered Nurse and Director of nursing in the later years of his career, and as a popular substitute teacher in his “retirement” years where the teachers appreciated that he had control of their classroom and students thought he was a hoot because of his personality and stories.

Phil was an enthusiastic Dad and Grandpa willing to chauffeur kids and ALL their friends, cheer them on at their sports and activities and teach them to drive and play chess, Yahtze and Scrabble.  He was an excellent cook and baker (especially skilled at his Finlander specialties of potato sausage and cardamom bread) and loved to feed people.   A devoted caretaker, Phil lovingly tended to his wife Carol as she battled and passed away from cancer in 2017.  He also cared for his sister Bettie in house before she entered a nursing home.

Phil was an avid hunter and loved the outdoors, stalking wild turkeys and deer most often and had wonderful times at the hunting shack.  He also loved sports and played basketball in high school and for fun.  Phil coached youth baseball and softball and served as the President of the Cloquet Youth Baseball/Softball Association for many years. He watched a lot of college sports and was a die hard Green Bay Packers and Detroit Tigers fan.

Phil was an avid reader and was fascinated by history and politics and was not afraid to share his passionate opinions and vast knowledge about them!  A true extrovert, Phil loved visiting with people and appreciated good humor, being a bit of a goofball himself.  He will be dearly missed by friends and family.