Philip S. Howe

Obituary's Biography:

Philip Sherwood Howe, age 76, a distinguished resident of Grayslake, IL, passed away on Thursday, April 11, 2024. Born on October 22, 1947, in Johnstown, PA, to Sidney and Elizabeth (nee Barrett) Howe, Philip led a life marked by service.

After growing up in Ossining, NY, Philip graduated from Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT in 1969 with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and was commissioned in the U.S. Air Force the same day. He later attended Georgetown University Law Center, graduating in 1972. Philip served actively in the Air Force for four years, starting in 1973, and continued in the Air Force Reserves until retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1998 after 28 years of service.

Philip’s commitment to public service extended into his professional career. He worked in private practice before joining the Illinois Government in 1978. Over his career, he served as Senate Legislative Liaison for Governor James R. Thompson, General Counsel to Secretary of State James Edgar, and eventually as the Director and General Counsel for the Illinois Development Finance Authority. He concluded his Illinois public service as the Chief Administrative Judge at the Illinois Department of Professional Regulation and as Chairman of the Board of Tax Appeals at the Illinois Department of Revenue.

After retiring from the State of Illinois in 2003, Philip worked as an Administrative Law Judge for the Department of Defense, conducting hearings across the country until his final retirement in 2017.

Philip was also committed to his local community, serving over the years on the Grayslake School Board, Grayslake Public Library Board of Trustees and the Library Foundation, and with the Lake County Republican Central Committee. Philip’s hobbies included a passion for model railroading, and he served as President of the Lionel Operating Train Society, an international model railroad club.

Philip is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Kirsten Reeder Howe; daughters, Sarah (David) Elliott of Grayslake, IL, and Susie (Sam O’Connor-Divelbiss) Howe of Lake Bluff, IL; granddaughters, Edith and Zoe; and siblings, Judith Bennett of Marietta, GA, Elizabeth Bonanno of Suwanee, GA, Stephen Howe of Kalispell, MT, and Michael Howe of Peterborough, NH. He was preceded in death by his parents.

Visitation will be held at Strang Funeral Chapel, 410 E Belvidere Road, Grayslake, IL 60030 on Thursday, April 18, 2024, from 4pm until 8pm. A Funeral Mass is scheduled at St. Mary of the Annunciation Catholic Church, 22333 W Erhart Road, Mundelein, IL 60060 on Friday, April 19, 2024, at 11am. Interment will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Liver Foundation (https://liverfoundation.org/).

Philip’s legacy of service, dedication, and love for his family will forever be cherished by those who knew him.

For more information, please call (847) 223-8122 or www.StrangFuneral.org.

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