Phyllis A Webb, 91, of Grand Island passed away Saturday July 27 with family at her side, at Good Samaritan Village in Grand Island, NE after more than a year of cancer complications.
Rosary will be 10 a.m. Mass of Christian burial will follow at 10:30, Thursday, August 1,2024 at St. Mary's Cathedral. Rev. Jorge Canela will officiate. Rev. James Janovec will co-celebrate. Interment of ashes will be at private family service at Westlawn Cemetery.
All Faiths Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.
Phyllis was born to Evelyn E Campeau and Harold W Gowan Aug. 20, 1932, New Richmond, WI, during the Great Depression, and often recounted being warmed as a bundled infant on the open door of the kitchen oven; and having to eat fish caught by her French mother, grandmother and great-grandmother in a nearby creek, for there was little food to afford.
On Nov. 14, 1964, she was united in marriage to her husband of life John "Jack" E Webb at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Stillwater MN. They made Grand Island their home; were parents to John, James and Barb; and celebrated their 55th anniversary in 2019.
Phyllis attended St. Michael's School, and graduated from a Stillwater High School in Stillwater, MN. She served for a number of years as funeral committee chair at St. Mary's Cathedral; and attended Thursday mass. She enjoyed Midnight Christmas Mass at St. Mary's, and annually collected family to attend the Singing Christmas Tree.
In her 20's, she worked as secretary to salesmen covering the high plains states for Owens Illinois located in the Twin Cities. Ever considering herself 'big city girl' to the extent she would not tune to local radio, and would travel to Lincoln and Omaha to shop. She also worked as a saleswoman in the china department at Miller & Paine department store in the Conestoga Mall, and as a secretary for 15 years in the Career Exploration office at Grand Island School District.
As a young woman, she enjoyed going to dances with cousins Ron and Sherman Stromen. She traveled by convertible with girlfriends to many states, including the United Nations headquarters in New York City.
In 1992, she fulfilled a lifelong dream to travel Europe: to wonder at the cities, countryside, churches, museums and public spaces of England, France, Switzerland and Italy – where she attended audience by Pope John Paul II, at the invitation of a priest with ties to Grand Island.
For more than 20 years, she and Jack traveled nearly every Spring to visit Monterey California. They would shop at local markets, and drive the coastal highway, stopping to watch the ocean. Upon return, they would take classes. Phyllis would make pottery. They also regularly went to Nebraska City and Chanes R restaurant.
She loved gardening at home, and for some time, harvesting vegetables at husband's tractor garden to sell at farmer's market; she volunteered a number of years with city greenhouse staff, arranging flower planters at Stolley Park and elsewhere in the city. Phyllis would bring BLTs and other summer suppers to her sons while they worked in the hayfield.
Her 'Auntie' Isabelle and Uncle Tim, and her Grandmother Alvina and Great-grandmother Marie Clara, were steadfast influences in her youth. She learned to swim in the St. Croix River – just outside the yard. She was proud to claim both French and Irish ancestry. She was an inspired cook in her kitchen - able to make a soup with any ingredients she had on hand. She was the reliable contrarian to keep alive any conversation, and frugal to no ends.
Phyllis, in the 1970's, was a homemaker providing an active childhood upbringing - with consequential love and manners - to her daughter and two sons. She was considerate with her time in her retirement years caring for her grandsons, granddaughter, and in her later years enjoyed visits from her great-grandchildren. She made a point of celebrating one's birthday with a cake.
The family would like to thank the medical professionals at CHI Health Saint Francis Cancer Treatment Center, CHI Health Saint Francis Skilled Nursing Home, and Good Samaritan Society Nursing Home (Ash Grove) and AseraCare Hospice.
She is survived by her son, John (Lisa) Webb of Grand Island, son James Webb of Grand Island, daughter Barb (Scott) Fowler of Stromsburg NE; sister Shirley Gile of Hudson, WI. Grandmother to Joe (Jennie) Fowler of Lincoln, NE; Alex Webb of Lincoln, Lauren and (Cole) Leaman of Wood River, Harrison Webb of Omaha, Hayden Fowler of Stromsburg, NE and Leighton Webb of Lincoln; and great-grandchildren Frannie and Greta Fowler, and Kip Leaman.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, "Jack" Webb; step-father Ernest, half-brother Norm, and brother, Ernest Jr.