Filemon "Phil" Leon

KEWANEE - Filemon “Phil” Leon, 77, of Kewanee, died at 7:45 a.m., Tuesday, August 9, 2016 at his home.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m., Monday, August 15 at Rux Funeral Home in Kewanee with recitation of the Rosary at 4:00 p.m. Military rites will be accorded by the Kewanee Veterans Council following the visitation at 6:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Cremation will be accorded and private inurnment will be in Mt. Olivet Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Osteogenesis Imperfecta (Brittle Bones) Foundation or to the Kewanee Fire and Rescue Squad.  

He was born March 9, 1939 in Kewanee, the son of Julian and Margerita (Rivas) Leon. He married Elsie Dunn Ullrick in 1965 and they later divorced but remained friends. Survivors include Elsie Leon of Kewanee, two sons, Jonathan Leon of Kewanee and Matthew (Holly) Leon of Chicago, a step-son, Terry Ullrick of Pass Christian, MS, three grandchildren, Mark and Lillian Leon, both of Chicago and Chris Ullrick of Pass Christian, MS, a brother, Richard Leon, two sisters, Connie Howell and Olivia Lopez and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Anita Martinez and a nephew.

Phil attended Kewanee schools and joined the Air Force in 1956 where he served as a Medical Corpsman and was honorably discharged in 1960. He had worked at the former Sheffield Brickyard and retired from the John Deere Foundry in 1992 with 32 years of service. He was always a proud UAW union member. He was a Webelos Cub Scout and Boy Scout Leader for Wethersfield Pack 199. In his retirement he enjoyed doing yard work and driving his John Deere tractors. His biggest enjoyment was going to grandchildren’s ball games and dance recitals. Phil’s advice was “the right tool for the right job.” He was a reluctant traveler but was always amazed when he got home at how fast it was all over and he enjoyed seeing those same sites in movies and on T.V. He was also an avid Chicago Cubs and Bears fan.

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