Phyllis Hall

A loving wife and mother, Phyllis regarded her family as her greatest achievement. She was known for her wonderful sense of humor, and each day she tried to share her happiness with the many people she loved.

With the end of the Great War, thousands of young soldiers returned to their civilian lives back home. Industry expanded to meet the demands of a peacetime nation, and the economy soared. Amid this climate of prosperity, August Krull and his wife Helena Draeger discovered another reason to celebrate: they were expecting a child. On July 18, 1919 they were blessed with the healthy birth of their daughter Phyllis Elizabeth.

The second of three children, Phyllis grew up in Grand Rapids with the company of her sisters Helene and Betty. While their mother tended to the house, their father provided for the family through his job as a supervisor for Oliver Machinery. On Sunday nights she would accompany her father to Oliver to tend the boiler and she remembered those times fondly. Phyllis attended Immanuel Lutheran School through the eighth grade, then enrolled at Creston High School where she graduated with the Class of 1937. She also attended Davenport College for several years.

During grade school Phyllis formed a friendship with her classmate Roger Hall. Although they attended different high schools, they stayed in touch because their families both belonged to Immanuel Lutheran Church. Phyllis and Roger participated in many youth group activities and church plays. A romance developed between them, and they soon fell in love. Roger asked for her hand, and they were married at St. James Church on Thanksgiving Day in the mid-1940's.

The newlyweds lived with Roger's parents for a short time before finding an apartment of their own. They were blessed with three wonderful children: Roger, Patty, and Larry; both sons now deceased. As the family grew, Phyllis and Roger agreed to move into a larger house. They settled at 705 Lyon Street, where they lived for eighteen years before relocating to 446 Marywood. Phyllis was a natural mother. She was an excellent cook, specializing in German food, She loved the Cooking Channel, especially watching Emeril Lagossi. She loved to play with young children, mainly because she enjoyed acts of mischief as much as they did. Phyllis was known for her wonderful sense of humor. She enjoyed teasing and laughing, and her face was almost always illuminated with a familiar smile.

Throughout her life Phyllis worked a variety of jobs and always stayed busy. After high school she began working at General Motors and, later, Herpolsheimer's Department Store. She then returned to Immanuel Lutheran School to teach kindergarten. Her daughter Patty was in the class, but she could never say "Mom." Like the rest of the students, she said "Mrs. Hall." As Patty grew older, Phyllis began working at Old Kent Bank. She held this job for over thirty years and retired in 1988 as an executive secretary. For Phyllis, retirement did not mean idle time. She became an active volunteer for both the American Cancer Society and Spectrum Butterworth Hospital. She also supported many other charities with time and money.

Phyllis and Roger shared a love for travel. Many of their fondest memories involve family vacations to Colorado, Wyoming, and various parts of Michigan. In the early years they traveled with a trailer, and they eventually upgraded to a motorhome. Phyllis and Roger were members of the Holiday Ramblers Club and the Good Sam Club. They enjoyed camping together, especially in Grand Haven and near the Mackinac Bridge.

Phyllis formed many valuable friendships over the years, and she always made the effort to stay in touch. She met with other retired Old Kent Bank employees once a month, and she sat down to lunch regularly with friends from Creston High School. Phyllis sang in the church choir and the Old Kent Bank Chorus. She loved listening to music, especially the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. She was a lifelong fan of the Detroit Tigers and University of Michigan Football. She played softball with all the boys in the neighborhood, and in later years she enjoyed bowling and ping pong. Phyllis was a staunch Republican who remained interested in politics throughout her life. She was extremely proud of her daughter Patty, a Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army, now retired.

At home Phyllis dedicated her time to a variety of hobbies. She was a skilled seamstress who enjoyed handwork such as embroidery and sewing. She loved her pets, especially her dog Tammy Sue, and she also kept many canaries. On a typical afternoon Phyllis would feed the birds, leaf through her old photo albums, and then drive the car if the weather permitted. She was very proud of her property, and in later years she would sit outdoors to supervise the lawn care and help whenever she could.

Family was the center of Phyllis's life. Her happiest days were the births of her three children and her wedding. She treasured all the time that she spent with her family, and in their company a warm smile always brimmed over her lips. Among the many people whose hearts she touched, Phyllis will be greatly missed and frequently remembered.

Phyllis died on Wednesday, January 31, 2007. She was preceded in death by her husband Roger and two sons, Larry and Roger. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law Patty and Ron Violet of San Antonio, TX; sisters Helene Sund of Linden and Betty (Jack) Zandstra of Grand Rapids and several nieces and nephews including Paula Davidson. Phyllis worked for many years for Old Kent Bank and was a longtime volunteer for Spectrum Butterworth and the American Cancer Society. Funeral services will be held Saturday at 2PM Heritage Lifestory Funeral Homes - Van Strien - Creston Chapel, 1833 Plainfield NE where family and friends may meet the family on Friday from 2-4 and 7-9PM and on Saturday for one hour prior to the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, 400 Ann Street NW, 49504 or the Kent County Humane Society, 3077 Wilson Dr NW, 49534. Please visit Phyllis's personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can share a favorite memory or sign the guestbook.