June Pilch

June Pilch, age 91, of Phillips, WI gladly met her Savior, Tuesday, October 4, 2022, under the care of Flambeau Home Health Hospice. She is survived by 4 children: Gail (Peter) Bergeson of New Richmond, WI., Linda (Peter) Lindgren of Rhinelander WI., Paul (Helen) Pilch Jr. of Willow AK, and Karen (Jon) Cress of Nikiski AK; 16 grandchildren and 24+ great grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Paul Pilch Sr. on June 29, 2018. She was the last surviving child of Anna and Victor Reginald Catchpole; 4 siblings preceded her in death as well as 3 great grandchildren.

June moved to Phillips during a 1947 Memorial Day weekend snowstorm from Cicero, Ill. This city girl met the boy next door; they were married December 28, 1949. She embraced farm life with a vengeance; she will be remembered for her tractor driving, cow milking, gardening, and hunting skills. After selling the milk cows she joined the first generation of CNAs at the newly built Pleasant View Nursing Home in 1964. In 1970 she taught in the Early Childhood Special Needs program of Price County; this led to her 20-year career as Instructor and Assistant Director of the Price County Achievement Center.

Becoming a Christ follower at the age of 23, June faithfully served her Lord in her home and church family, First Baptist of Phillips. Those who know her recall her generous use of her gifting: Easter breakfasts, teacher/mentor.

Beginning in 1959, she and Paul traveled to Alaska most summers; their last trip was in 2008. She thoroughly enjoyed traveling in their motorhome; the last trip she drove most of the way describing her fellow travelers as “a cripple and a blind guy.”

She is known by extended family for “June’s cooking”—especially pickled beets, kolache and volumes of rye bread and pies. She perfected the art of pumpkin pies without tasting them as she was allergic to cinnamon. A true “green thumb”, she found time to garden and preserve the produce until she was 85 years old.

Each of her grandchildren received a queen-sized quilt for high school graduation from Grandma June. Family and friends have been recipients of an unknown number of sewn or knitted items over the years.

Qualities that best describe June (and Paul, for they were a team): honorable, sacrificial, generous, humble people who loved their Lord, each other and anyone who crossed the threshold of their welcoming home.

A Memorial for June will be held Saturday, November 26, 2022, at First Baptist Church, 426 Flambeau Avenue, Phillips, WI 54555. Visitation begins at 10 am, 11 am service with luncheon to follow at the church. Heindl-Nimsgern Funeral Home is assisting the family.