Longtime Harbor resident, Philip B. Kalisch, 85, died in Olympia, Thursday, March 29, 2012, of natural causes. He was born in Dickinson, North Dakota on May 21, 1926, the son of Joe and Betty (Nissen) Kalisch. He graduated from high school in Dickinson and joined the Navy in 1944, serving until 1946. He attended college in Dickinson on the GI Bill and served in the Naval Reserves until 1954.
Phil followed a brother and some friends to Longview, WA in the late 1940’s and started work for the Weyerhaeuser Pulp Mill, Longview, coming to the Cosmopolis mill in 1957 as part of the start-up crew. He had been a machine tender until he retired in 1986 after 37 years of service.
Phil met Donna J. Mann in Longview and they were married there on May 28,1953. They moved to Montesano in 1957, then Aberdeen, settling at their home in Central Park in 1961. After his retirement, they later moved to Montesano in 2002. Following Donna’s death in 2009, Phil moved to Olympia in 2010.
Although not religious, Phil had an abiding faith in God. He was very honest, a man you could trust. Phil was a family man and a good provider, a trait that both he and Donna had until the end.
He was a life member of the Aberdeen Elk’s Lodge, No. 593 and was a member of the Central Park Lions Club. He enjoyed outdoor activities including hunting and spent many elk seasons in the Quinault woods with lifelong friends from his workplace. He also enjoyed all types of fishing, especially for salmon out of Westport. Phil enjoyed watching baseball on television, he had a love/hate relationship with the Seattle Mariners. After retiring Phil took up golf, and snow skiing. He was still digging clams at the age of 85. Phil and Donna spent a decade sno-birding to Yuma, AZ in the winter where they developed deep friendships. In general, Phil enjoyed being around family and friends while sharing good times.
Phil is survived by three sons and their wives: Kraig and Cindy, Chewelah, WA, Kent and Yadira, Olympia and Phillip and Kathy, Cosmopolis; three grandchildren: Joe and Meaghan, Cosmopolis and John Moores, Atlanta, GA. He was preceded in death by two half brothers: Andrew and Nic Boysen and a brother: Frank Kalisch.
A celebration of his life will be held at 11:30 AM, Saturday, MAY 19, 2012 at the Cosmopolis Lions Club.
The family suggests memorials may be made to CENTRAL PARK LIONS CLUB, C/O BRIAN PATTON, PO BOX 1041, COSMOPOLIS, WA 98537.
A card of condolence with a message may be sent to the family at www.fernhillfuneral.com
Arrangements were entrusted to Fern Hill Funeral Home, Aberdeen.

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