Dr. Phil Lonning

Dr. Philip Eugene Lonning was born on July 22, 1932, to Lennie and Leone (Hansen) Lonning in Thor, Iowa. He and his brothers lived in Thor with their parents until Philip was 4 years old when they relocated to the farm in Waukon, Iowa. 

It was in Waukon where Philip completed his education through high school participating in band and working part-time for local farmers. After graduation from high school Philip worked for several years in Milwaukee, Wisconsin at the A and P before attending college at Iowa State Teacher’s college which is now the University of Northern Iowa. Upon graduation from ISTC, Philip took his first job as a high school business education teacher in Garner, Iowa where a certain senior, Carole Yohn, caught his attention and ultimately his heart. He and Carole were united in marriage in June 1960. Right after their wedding they headed to Colorado where Philip was completing his master’s degree in school counseling. 

Once his master’s degree was completed, he and Carole moved to Humboldt where he was employed by the Humboldt/Pocahontas school system as a counselor. Deciding to settle in Humboldt, the couple welcomed a daughter, Elizabeth Ann, and four years later a son, James Brian, both via adoption. Always one to value education, Philip returned to Iowa State University in their PhD program for counselor education graduating in August 1969 (on what his family believes was the hottest day EVER in Iowa). With his doctoral status and license as a psychologist (#57 in the state), he began to work part time with Dr. L.K. Berryhill in private practice. 

In the early 70’s, Iowa changed the system for providing services to school districts from a county system to the Area Education Agency system. Dr. Lonning worked for Arrowhead AEA as a psychologist for a brief time before leaving to pursue full-time private practice with Dr. Berryhill until he retired for the first time in 2000. Dr. Lonning then joined a private practice with Dr. Dan Rogers for three years before retiring again. He returned to work yet again and provided psychological testing for the Fort Dodge mental health center retiring for the third and final time in 2007. 

During his professional career, in addition to providing care for many, Dr. Lonning served on the Executive Council of the Iowa Psychological Association, the Board of Directors for Lutheran Social Services, the Iowa State Board of Psychological Examiners as well as serving two terms as an Elder and President of his congregation for Zion Lutheran Church in Humboldt. He received the Meritorious Service award from the Iowa Psychological Association. 

To say he left an impression wherever he was is an understatement. He will be missed by many, most especially by his wife, Carole, daughter Bethe (Rich Kier), son, Jim and grandchildren William and Josie. 

Services will be on January 25, 2025 at Mason-Lindhart Funeral & Cremation Service in Humboldt. Visitation will be held from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. with a brief service at 1:00 p.m. and luncheon to follow. Burial will be later at Union Cemetery in Humboldt. Memorials and donations may be made to Zion Lutheran Sunday School in Humboldt or the Iowa Psychological Association or Iowa Psychological Foundation. www.masonlindhart.com