Joan Phillips

Joan Yvonne Phillips, age 90, passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at Thomas Rest Haven in Coon Rapids, Iowa. Previously, Joan was a resident at the Manning Senior Living Center’s Memory Care Unit.

Joan was born on June 3, 1935 to Wayne and Edna Martin in Oakland, Iowa. Her family moved to the Storm Lake, Iowa area where the family farmed and she graduated from Albert City High School. Joan married the love of her life, Gilbert “Gib” Phillips on October 3, 1953. Joan and Gib moved to Manning in 1954 where they opened their State Farm Office.

She was an active leader in the community, serving as a volunteer economic development coordinator for Manning and as a member of the Carroll County Development Board. Joan was appointed to the Iowa Economic Development Board (IDED) in 1989 and served on the Iowa Rural Development Council, Targeted Business Loan Committee, and was a delegate to the White House Conference on Small Business in 1995. During her tenure on the board, Joan worked with the IDED International office in Germany to identify a German Hausbarn to move to Manning.

Joan was active in the Sacred Heart Church serving as a CCD teacher and organist and choir director.

A life-long Democrat, Joan was active with the Carroll County Democrats, the State Democratic party and participated in numerous campaigns including Senator Tom Harkin and Governor Tom Vilsack. Joan ran for the Iowa State Senate in 2000.

Joan was an avid golfer and she and Gib competed in many couples’ golf tournaments. Their love of golf spurred their move to Surprise, AZ where they lived most of the year until they moved back to West Des Moines in 2013 to be closer to family.

Joan is survived by her daughters, Gail (Joe) Kotval, Urbandale, IA, Diane (Brad) Jones, Storm Lake, IA, and sons, Michael (Sandy) Phillips, Winterset, IA and Steven (Julie) Phillips, Elkhorn, NE. She also has

nine grandchildren: Molly (Kasey) Dammeier, Amy (Tyler) Irwin; Benjamin (Melissa) Jones, Jenny (Alex) Gass; Amanda DeVos, Michelle (Casey) Keough, Michael J Phillips; Mariana (Kyle) Hedland and Blake Phillips; eight great-grandchildren: Olivia Dammeier, Wyatt, Owen, and Noah Gass, Raylynn and Ayden DeVos and Maverick and Maguire Hedland. Joan is also survived by her sister, Elaine Carlson.

Joan was preceded in death by her husband, Gib, brothers, Marion Martin, Dale Martin, sister, Joyce Hoskins; sisters-in-laws Norene Martin, Joan Martin, Greta Tollas and brother-in-law, Jerry Carlson.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, February 19 from 5:00 – 7:00 pm at the Ohde Funeral Home, 108 1st Street, Manning, IA. A Funeral Mass will be held on Friday, February 20 at 10:30 am Sacred Heart Church, 203 Sue Street, Manning. Memorial contributions may be directed to Manning Regional Healthcare Center and the Manning Senior Living Center.

Mom’s words from one of her last Christmas letters,” Volunteer for something important. Life is truly good. Let us focus on all the blessing we have been given. Help someone who has less. That is the greatest gift we may give”.