Philip Alan Countryman

Philip Alan Countryman, 77, of Fairfield, Iowa, passed away on February 2, 2025, at Jefferson County Health Center. A graveside service, with military honors, will be held on Saturday, February 8, 2025, at 11:00 a.m. at the Union Cemetery with Pastor Al Coffin officiating. Open visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, February 7, 2025, at the Cranston Family Funeral Home in Fairfield, IA with a Masonic Service starting at 4:30 p.m. The family will be present to greet friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to the Shriners Children's Hospital or to the Union Cemetery Association and may be mailed c/o Cranston Family Funeral Home, P.O. Box 189, Fairfield, IA 52556. Friends may leave online condolences at www.cranstonfamilyfunerahome.com.
Philip Alan Countryman was born December 27, 1947 to Robert William and Vivian Johnson Countryman in Ottumwa, Iowa. He grew up on a farm in Davis County and graduated from Davis County High School in 1966. While in high school he was a wrestling manager and involved in FFA. He was chosen to be an FFA usher for the grandstand at the Iowa State Fair. In his senior year, he became a lead usher, working with other FFA members who were part of the usher crew.
Phil became a Cyclone at Iowa State University and graduated in November, 1970, with a degree in Agricultural Education with an emphasis on Agricultural Business. He became a resident of Jefferson County when his parents moved to a farm East of Fairfield in 1967. Some of his closest friends at ISU were from Fairfield, and it was at a gathering of friends on the 4th of July, 1969, that he met his future wife, Gloria Tedrow.
Phil was drafted into the U.S. Army in December, 1970. He always said that the only lottery he ever won was through the draft lottery system. He was stationed at Fort Leonardwood, MO. Because the base did not have enough room for the new draftees, a plane full of GI's were flown to Fort Lewis, Washington on December 31. His comment when he called home to report to his family his new location was that he saw the New Year 3 times during that flight and that should have counted towards his 2 years of service so he could be flown home. He completed Basic and AIT training and received orders for Viet Nam. Those orders were rescinded and 18 days later, on June 2, 1970, he received orders for Germany. He called Gloria, and they were married on June 11, 1970 while he was home on leave. She later joined him in September in Heilbronn, Germany, so they could enjoy their 15 month "European honeymoon". He served with the 23rd Ordinance Company as a security clerk and was discharged in December, 1972.
He began working for Jefferson County Mutual Insurance Company in 1973 as an adjuster/inspector and in 1975 became an adjuster/claims specialist for Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Company in parts of Iowa and Missouri. He retired from GMRC in May, 2011. Phil was a member of the Fairfield First United Methodist Church, Masonic Clinton Lodge 15, Scottish Rites and Kaaba Shrine, Ducks Unlimited, and numerous professional organizations during his insurance career.
His favorite activities were spending time with his family, attending different sporting events to cheer on kids and grandkids, working with the variety of animals that were on the family acreage through the years, and working with his tractors--2 John Deere, his grandfather's AC, a Ford Jubilee, and a D17.
His quick wit and sense of humor will be missed by his wife, Gloria, his daughter Sarah (Kurt) Renaud of West Des Moines, his son Aaron (Alysia) Countryman of Fairfield, 4 grandsons, Alec Renaud, Chase, Channing, and Cael Countryman, a sister Barbara (Gerry)Schwake of Sumner, and brother David (Roberta) Countryman of Ames, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Robert and Vivian Countryman, his parents-in-law, Glenn and Arlene Tedrow, and a grandson, Job Philip Renaud.