Phil Gutierrez 1937-2020
Philemon “Phil” Gutierrez Jr., 83, of Holton, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2020, at Holton Community Hospital.
He was born Feb. 8, 1937 in Topeka, the son of Philemon Sr. and Marciana Llamas-Gutierrez.
He attended Lincoln Grade School, East Topeka Jr. High School and Topeka High School. Phil earned his bachelor’s degree from Washburn University in 1971. He earned his master of social work degree from The University of Kansas in 1973. While attending college he worked for the Topeka State Hospital, VA Hospital and U.S. Postal Service.
Phil was an avid Jayhawk Basketball fan and a life member of Washburn University and Kansas University Alumni Association.
He proudly served in the United States Navy during the Korean War. While in the Navy, he earned his G.E.D. Phil later retired from the U.S. Army Reserve as a major.
Upon graduating from KU, he went to work for the U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Prisons as a correctional treatment specialist and retired as regional assistant correctional programs administrator on Oct. 31, 1994, after 35 years of service.
After retirement, he was a disaster volunteer for the American Red Cross in San Francisco, Calif., Red Cross Office Manager in Livermore, Calif., and a director at a pre-release center for federal offenders in Oakland, Calif.
He was a longtime member of Holton American Legion Post 44 and Holton V.F.W. Post 1367. He was also a hospice social worker for NEK Multi-County Home Health and Hospice in Hiawatha.
Phil married Rosemary Rocha on Dec. 23, 1955. They divorced.
He married Colene L. Moser on Feb. 14, 1978, in Long Beach, Calif. They celebrated more than 41 years of marriage.
Survivors include his wife, Colene Moser-Gutierrez, of the home; his six children, Marciana D. Gutierrez, Jennifer Gutierrez, Angela Gutierrez and Matthew G. Gutierrez, all of Topeka, Dominic A. Gutierrez Sr. of Kingwood, Texas and Martin J. Gutierrez (Kimberly) of Fort Worth, Texas; 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Fernando Dexter Gutierrez (infant) and Leon T. Gutierrez; and sisters, Belia G. Lowe, Sylvia G. Lopez and Corliss Gutierrez.
Celebration of life services will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 2 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Family will greet friends following the service. Burial will be held at a later date. Phil will lie in state beginning Friday afternoon at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Heart of Jackson Humane Society, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
