Phillip (Phil) Ervin Weitze was a man that was nearly impossible to forget. Born on March 18th, 1950 to his parents Ervin and Norma (Koehn) Weitze in Kansas City, Missouri and raised in Kansas City, Kansas; he was a lifelong Wyandotte County resident. As a proud, dedicated and loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, & friend (and any other moniker he carried), Phil passed away unexpectedly on July 23rd, 2024. He was 74 years old.
Phil grew up in KCK and enjoyed the outdoors. Particularly baseball and Boy Scouts. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout, which is the highest honor for scouting. He also excelled at drawing and art. Commercial Art and lettering being his specialties.
After graduating from Wyandotte High School in 1968, Phil enlisted in the United States Navy where he completed two tours of Vietnam during the war.
On April 18, 1977 Phil married the love of his life, Margaret (Sue) Weitze (McClure). They would enjoy a life together of lake trips, sporting events, movies and many a night at the ballpark as they both played. Phil actually coached his wife’s team to multiple league titles. These nights of playing and coaching sports would become commonplace in their lives as on December 29th, 1978 and again on June 19th, 1981, they would become a parents to sons Shane and Ryan.
Being a husband and father were things that Phil took very seriously. He and Margaret worked very hard to provide for their family. At times, Phil would work two full time jobs to be able to help afford tuition for Shane and Ryan to attend private schools (St. Peter’s Cathedral and Bishop Ward High School). Mostly though, any part time work would consist of either painting or umpiring baseball. The latter was certainly the most noteworthy.
Known for his red face mask and bellowing voice, Phil was a fixture at many youth and high school baseball games and tournaments in the Wyandotte County area; but usually at WYCO and 3 & 2/KCKBA ball fields.
Phil also enjoyed coaching his sons’ basketball and baseball teams. The kids he helped coach over the years were sure to have some lasting stories to tell of his unique brand of motivation and sports knowledge. He would fill whatever spare time he had attending his kids’ sporting events and activities. When he did get the chance to relax at home, he’d like to kick back on the couch and read the newspaper or watch tv, play with his dogs and hang out with Sue while enjoying one of her many great home cooked meals. He loved her fiercely and appreciated everything about her. She remained by his side until the very end.
Later on in life he would take up fishing as his primary hobby, spending many days and evenings out at Wyandotte County Lake and various other local fishin’ holes. He would also enjoy the perks of being a grandfather. He would take great joy in watching his little granddaughters reel in fish, to watching kids sports again, to introducing them to some colorful language during Chiefs games.
He would retire from the Kansas City Kansas Housing Authority in 2012 and finally got to enjoy all his favorite aforementioned activities full time. A privilege well deserved for a man who worked so hard for his family.
He even had the honor of meeting his great granddaughter earlier this month.
Phil will be missed dearly by all of his friends, family and mostly anyone he came in contact with. This world is a bit quieter with him not here. Let us all take his nonjudgmental and welcoming attitude as an example of how life should be lived.
Phil is preceded in death by his parents Ervin and Norma, and his loving K9 companions, Buddy, Snux, Bo, Jade, Ace and Arwen.
He is survived by his wife: Margaret (Sue). Sister: Carol (& brother in law Terry). Sons: Shane (& daughter-in-law Christine) & Ryan. grandchildren: Ava, Kierstan, Annalise and Amelia Weitze; Cheyenne and Wyatt Foster; Carys, Sutton and Georgia Greenlee. Great granddaughter: Sylvie Lewis. K9 companion: Darlin; and numerous other nieces, nephews, cousins and family members.
A celebration of life will be held at a later date this summer or early fall per Phil’s wishes. An invitation will be sent out to all family and friends once arrangements are made. The family appreciates and welcomes any and all kind of positive support at this time.