Kenneth Gene Phipps

Gene Phipps was a man who lived a life of passion and principle, of character and integrity. Gene was a pilot, with a lifelong love of airplanes, of flying high above the clouds, looking down on all God’s creation below. He was a husband, a father, a grandfather, a brother and friend, but most of all, Gene held himself to a higher standard, and taught us to do the same.

Gene’s story began on a cool winter day in 1928, in Kansas City, Missouri. Those were such interesting times in this country, the twilight of the Roaring 20s, and the calm before the terrible storm of the Great Depression. Those were the days when the automobile, and the airplane, became integral parts of our society. On February 12, 1928, Dudley and Ruth (Wisely) Phipps celebrated the birth of their first child, a baby son they named Kenneth Gene Phipps.

Gene was later joined by his little sister Gloria. His mother was a homemaker and his father was with the Upjohn Company - a job that took the family from Kansas City to Dallas and later San Francisco, where Gene finished his schooling.

As a young boy, Gene became fascinated with airplanes, and his favorite hobby was building and flying model airplanes, and he dreamed of one day of flying the real thing. As a teenager, Gene got his first gun, a Winchester rifle, a gun he kept his whole life, as part of his extensive gun collection numbering more than 50.

Gene graduated from San Francisco’s George Washington High School in 1945, and three years later, he moved with his family to Kalamazoo, Michigan. He found work in the booming paper mill there. In 1950, Gene entered the U.S. Army, serving his country stateside during the Korean War.

When he was discharged, he returned to Kalamazoo, and in 1953 he began working at the Upjohn Co. He continued his education at Battle Creek Community College, Kalamazoo Valley Community College, and later Western Michigan University, where he earned his Bachelor’s degree and MBA. And he also fulfilled his lifelong dream by earning his pilot’s license.

Gene was a pilot almost his entire life, and an excellent pilot, as well. He was instrument-rated, meaning he could fly at cloud level and also at night, without the aid of visual cues. He also co-owned several different planes over the years.

Gene loved the thrill of flying more than anything, and his earthbound pursuits mirrored that passion. He raced cars at the Kalamazoo Speedway for many years, and was an avid, lifelong hunter, as well. He was a past president of the Southwest Michigan Gun Club, and a lifetime member of the National Rifle Association, and seldom missed opening day of deer season. He and his close friend, George Higgins, even built a hunting cabin near Grayling, Michigan.

George was like a brother to Gene, and the best hunting buddy a man could have — next to Gene’s loyal dogs, of course. Gene loved dogs, and had many of the canine companions over the years, from his childhood dog, Boo, to his many hunting beagles, to his beloved Irish setter, Pat.

When he was older, Gene was introduced to Constance “Connie” Jeltema, who was a nurse at Bronson Hospital. The two hit it off, fell in love, and were married on June 2, 1973. Gene became an instant father to Connie’s son Rick, and adopted her son John.

Gene’s philosophy of parenting was well articulated in author Clarence Budington Kelland’s recollection of growing up: “He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.” Passing on the gift of his own father’s example, he became an unshakable foundation for his new – and growing – family. He gently demonstrated his belief that mistakes are an opportunity for learning rather than an occasion for condemnation, and that challenges are part of what makes life worth living. Gene never lost his curiosity about the world, and Connie once cited this as among traits that had initially attracted her, saying “He could carry on an intelligent discussion about any topic known to man.”

Gene was a realist, who engaged with the realities of the world as he found it. But he was an idealist as well, who believed that human beings can solve problems without sacrificing decency and civility, and that individually and together, we have the capacity to improve the world we find. The walls of his home never heard his voice raised in anger, but laughter was a frequent guest.

Even still, Gene was always willing to take care of those around him. He was a very even-keeled man, calm, gentle and compassionate, too. He never raised his voice, and could always get a laugh with his quick wit and dry sense of humor. And he was always quick to help out, as well.

After he retired from Upjohn in 1990 after 37 years there, Gene donated thousands of hours to the Kalamazoo Air Zoo Museum, helping restore historical airplanes. One of his favorite projects was restoring a SBD-5 Dauntless, a well-known World War II-era dive bomber.

Sadly, Gene’s wife Connie died in 1993. He created an educational fund in her name with the Kalamazoo Foundation, which primarily supported nursing students at KVCC, as well as a fund in her name at the Seventh Day Adventist Junior Academy, where he had become active later in life.

Gene filled his time with his sons, his hobbies, and his books, which he always had in abundance. He had a lifelong love of reading, especially biographies and historical novels. During the last years of his life, Gene was blessed with the companionship of his special friend, Shirley Newhouse.

Gene was a man of great character, who lived his life on his own terms, and his own steam. He was a husband, a father, grandfather, a brother, and friend, and a man of so many passions. He loved to fly, to take off into the sky, soaring higher, farther, and faster. It was the perfect pursuit for Gene, who was a man who lived his life to a higher standard, and taught us to do the same. He will be greatly missed.

Learn more about Gene, view his Life Story film and visit with his family and friends Wednesday from 4:00-8:00 PM at the Life Story Funeral Home-Betzler 6080 Stadium Dr Kalamazoo 375-2900. Funeral services will be held Thursday 11:00 AM at the Seventh Day Adventist Church 1601 Nichols Rd Kalamazoo. Interment Kendall Cemetery. Food and fellowship will be shared at the church hall following the interment. Gene was preceded in death by his wife Connie. Members of his family include two sons, Rick (Sarah) Jeltema of Gobles and John (Reena) Phipps of Ann Arbor; two grandchildren, Richard Lee Jeltema and Sarah Lynn McKay; two great-grandchildren, Erianna and Hannah McKay; his sister, Gloria (Bill) Lee of Kalamazoo; and special friend, Shirley Newhouse; many nieces and nephews. Please visit Gene’s web page at www.lifestorynet.com where you can read his Life Story, share a memory or photo, sign his memory book or make a memorial donation to Kalamazoo Air Museum, Rose Arbor Hospice or Kalamazoo Seventh Day Adventist Junior Academy.