Philip "Phil" Michael Colgan

Philip “Phil” Michael Colgan, 78, of Sandwich, IL passed away peacefully, surrounded by family, on June 29, 2022. Philip was born on April 10, 1944 in Peoria, IL to Thaddeus and Dorothy (Gstettenbauer) Colgan. Phil attended Bradley University in Peoria. Phil was a member and president of Kappa Delta Rho fraternity. He met his late wife Ginny Coonradt on a blind date. They were married one week after Ginny’s graduation in 1969. Phil graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education and Administration in 1967. He earned his Master’s degrees in Education and Administration in 1973 and 1977.

Phil began his career in the Peoria area as a teacher and coach before moving into administration serving Sparland High School as principal. In 1983, Phil landed his dream job as the Director of Indian Valley Vocational Center where he served for 21 years. He was genuinely passionate about the staff and students at Indian Valley. Phil’s life was rich with training and motivating those he worked with; he worked tirelessly, and touched thousands of lives as an administrator and educator.

After retirement from IVVC in 2004, Phil served as a part-time director at the Kishwaukee Education Consortium. Phil battled advanced esophageal cancer in 2008 and was able to resume his duties at KEC after recovery before officially retiring in 2013.

Phil was proud of his lifelong work as an educator, and one of his biggest accomplishments was founding a nonprofit corporation designed to train disadvantaged youth. It was an ongoing program for 10 years, and Phil was nominated for the “White House Award” in 1986.

Phil understood the importance of working hard and playing hard. He loved taking his family on vacations to their family cabin in Minocqua, Wisconsin and enjoyed playing the slot machines in Las Vegas and at Hollywood Casino in Aurora. Phil was an avid golfer and served on the board of Cedardell Golf Course in Plano, Illinois.

Philip is survived by 2 children, Kelly (Josh) Gschwend of Lake in the Hills, IL and Erin (Nicholas) Rott of Yorkville, IL; 2 grandchildren, Ethan and Hannah; 2 brothers, Quentin and Father Tobias OSB; As well as 4 sisters, Mary, Kathy, Dorothy and Ann.

He is preceded in death by his parents and his wife, Virginia (Ginny).

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Moose Lodge 1016 in Sandwich, Illinois.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 6^th, 2022 from 10:00 A.M. – 1:00 P.M. at Beverage Family Funeral Home, 104 Terry Street Sandwich, IL 60548. A funeral service will begin immediately afterwards at 1:00 P.M. at the funeral home. Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Beverage Family Funeral Home. Online condolences may be made at www.beveragefamilyfh.com