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Phillip Pantleo Obituary
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Born in Pueblo, Colorado he farmed with his father, played football and graduated from Central High School. Phil joined the Colorado National Guard serving four years at Camp Carson; he then transitioned to the Army 100th Heavy Tank Battalion at Fort Hood, Texas from 1949-1953 and was honorably discharged. He worked in the steel mill in Pueblo, married, and then moved to Kansas City in 1957 to raise his family.
Phil farmed three years in Trenton, Missouri, and then 50 years in Lawson. He also worked at the Kansas City Star as the mechanical supervisor in the mail room, retiring after 33 years of service. He served as president of the Quarterback Club and Booster Club for Lawson High School. He was also an active member of St. Ann Catholic Church, Excelsior Springs.
He was preceded by Clella Ann "Teddy" Pantleo, his devoted wife of 53 years, his parents Phillip and Pauline, siblings Russell, Eva, Jack, Carl, Jenny, Frank, and Pauline.
He is survived by his loving companion Mary Applegate, his children Lee Ann (Larry) Raulie, David (Brenda) Pantleo, Russell Pantleo and Wayne Foster, and Michael (Jenny) Pantleo; nine grandchildren, Zach, Evan, Rachel, Josh, Justin, Danielle, Phillip, Andrea, and Eric; 20 great-grandchildren, Bailey, Leighton, Luke, Ava, Journey, Jett, Indie Jo, Wesley, Colby, Brady, Lucas, Ethan, Jackson, Cole, Lilyana, Enzo, Roman, Emma Grace, Waylon James, Gunner Ramon, and several cousins, nieces and nephews.
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5 Entries
Theresa Krahenbuhl
August 10, 2025
Phil was full of life, full of love, and full of interesting stories. One of my favorite anecdotes as told by Phil...."When I was a kid (1930´s), my mom had a wood-burning, brick oven in the yard. Every Monday she would bake 20 loaves of bread to feed her family (8 children!). One day I asked her, "Mom, how do you know when the oven is ready?" She said, "I place a piece of newspaper in the oven, if it burns up quickly, the oven is too hot, but if the piece of newspaper slowly browns, then the oven is ready."
Phil must have inherited his culinary skills from his mom, as he was just as amazing a cook as he was a story teller. I will miss him greatly and always cherish his memory.
Kathi & Tim Brown (daughter and son-in-law of Mary Applegate)
August 10, 2025
When my husband and I met Phil (Pappy), we instantly took a liking to him for his interesting stories, kindness, generosity, and oh yes, his competitive bone in card playing. He was an excellent cook and for the past eight years, we shared lunch and game playing every weekend. He always used to say, " If I taught you anything at all, at least I got you to say grace before a meal." Pappy, our bonus dad, was the only man who was closest to a father figure for the both of us & we were surely grateful for all of his advice/expertise from all of his years of experience. Our hearts are truly broken to have lost him. He always had a smile on his face and was good natured, even when he did not feel well. We enjoyed the special bond felt when we were in his presence. Thank you "Pantleo family" for sharing Phil with us. We will love and miss him every day for the rest of our lives.
Theresa Krahenbuhl
August 10, 2025
Phil was full of life, full of love, and full of interesting stories. One of my favorite anecdotes as told by Phil...."When I was a kid (1930´s), my mom had a wood-burning, brick oven in the yard. Every Monday she would bake 20 loaves of bread to feed her family (8 children!). One day I asked her, "Mom, how do you know when the oven is ready?" She said, "I place a piece of newspaper in the oven, if it burns up quickly, the oven is too hot, but if the piece of newspaper slowly browns, then the oven is ready."
Phil must have inherited his culinary skills from his mom, as he was just as amazing a cook as he was a story teller. I will miss him greatly and always cherish his memory.
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Micah Henningsen
August 8, 2025
I am non-blood family on the Applegate side, but was blessed to meet Phil in his later years. I will dearly miss his brilliant mind and insight - history of Lucca Sicily, Army service, irrigation rights, baseball, grilling techniques, sausage making, pitch strategy!
In the 40s, Phil once got in trouble in the Army for "redirecting" leftover cafeteria food, that by regulation had to be discarded, to junior soldiers and their families (it was deemed improper at that time to save rations once opened). When relaying that story to me several years ago, he paused, scanned the room, and whispered: "well I didn´t let that officer stop me from feeding hungry troops." That´s the kind of guy Phil was.
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412 N Raum Street, Lawson, MO 64062
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