Phillip Roy Holly

Phillip Roy Holly, age 81 of Westfield, passed away peacefully on Monday, September 22, 2025 at Lily Meadows Assisted Living in Westfield. He was born on August 22, 1944, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to Dr. Roy and Cynthia (Phillips) Holly. Phil graduated from Westside High School in Omaha, Nebraska in 1962. He furthered his education at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for two years before moving to Milwaukee to attend the Wisconsin Institute of Mortuary Science. After graduation, Phil moved to Waupaca to work for the family business, A.J. Holly & Sons Funeral Home. On December 8, 1967, he became a Wisconsin licensed funeral director, making him a fourth-generation funeral director in the Holly family. Phil worked in Waupaca for ten years and at Krause Funeral Home in Milwaukee from 1976 to 2014. Phil served in the Wisconsin National Guard from 1967 to 1973.

Phil was proud of his family and was a devoted father and grandfather. He was also dedicated to his career of almost 50 years and staying sober for the past 47 years. He was an avid golfer who never got his hole in one. Phil was known for his sense of humor and enjoyed curling, biking, walking, downhill skiing, reading, crossword puzzles and cruising around in whatever nice car he had at the time. His favorite times, whether it was summer or winter, were spent with family & friends at the cottage on Long Lake in Waushara County. At the lake he loved to spend time boating, fishing, getting a tan on the beach, landscaping projects, cutting firewood, shoveling snow to make ice skating rinks, visiting with lake friends and playing frisbee golf on the course that he and his brother Hugh created.

Phil is survived by his two children, Sarah (Greg Riley) Holly, Indianapolis, IN and Nathan (Heidi) Holly, Westfield; four grandchildren, Nicholas, Levi, Brady and Lauren Holly; a great granddaughter due in December of 2025; sister, Carol (Alvin Handelman) Holly, MN; brother, Hugh (Celeste) Holly, AZ; many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents.

A memorial service for Phil will be held on Thursday, October 23, 2025, at 6:00 p.m. at Steinhaus-Holly Funeral Home in Westfield with Rev. Blaine Niskanen officiating. A visitation will be held on Thursday from 4:00 to 5:45 p.m. at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Lakeside Memorial Park in Waupaca.

The Holly family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Lily Meadows and Moments Hospice for the love and compassion given to Phil.

Please take a moment to view the online Tribute Wall. Send your condolences or share a memory of Phil with his family & friends.