Richard Charles Philipp passed away peacefully on Monday, Feb.4, 2008. Richard, known as “Dick” to his friends and family, was aresident of Lafayette, La., since 1997. The son of Charles andIrene Philipp, Richard was born on Feb. 20, 1925, in ChicagoIll.

Dick was a true member of the “Greatest Generation.” He joinedthe U.S. Navy shortly after Pearl Harbor and was assigned to the90th Seabee Construction Battalion and spent the war in thePacific. Of particular note, he was part of the Iwo Jima landing.After his service was complete, Dick remained active in both theSeabees and the Iwo Jima Veterans Groups and was instrumental inbringing the annual Iwo Jima Veterans Reunion to Lafayette threetimes during the past 10 years.

After the war, he returned to college and was a 1947 graduate ofNorthwestern University. He was always proud of Northwestern Purpleand was an active alumni member. He was married to Jeanne Tyler ofMt. Carmel, Ill., on Oct. 1, 1949. In 1950 he took his first job inthe paper industry and stayed in that industry for the next 40years, retiring as a vice president of the Champion Paper Co. Oneof the high points of his career was when he was selected as partof the start up for the St. Regis Paper Co. in placing the largestpaper mill in the world on line in Monticello.

During their lives together Jeanne and Dick traveled and livedthroughout the United States, including places as diverse as Mt.Carmel, Ill.; Milwaukee, Wisc.; Wayne, N.J.; Brookhaven; Tacoma,Wash; New York City; and after Dick’s retirement, back to theMississippi Gulf Coast.

Dick is survived by his sister, Barbara Mitacek, of ChicagoIll.; his wife, Jeanne Tyler Philipp; their three sons, ChristopherRichard (Kristina-Carr) Philipp and Douglas Tyler Philipp, ofLafayette, and Brian Ford (Jean) Philipp, of Swansea, Ill. He alsois survived by his only daughter Tammy Ann Philipp (Allen) Leger,also of Lafayette. He has seven grandchildren, Robin Carr, GeoffreyCleveland, Benjamin Edward Philipp, Spencer Tyler Philipp, MaryGrace Leger, Madeleine Germaine Philipp and Zachary RichardPhilipp.

Dick was an active member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church. Hewas a master of the Internet. He loved live theater and was one ofthe founding members of Brookhaven Little Theatre. Dick acted anddirected in several plays and wrote one play, “Captain Jack,” aboutlife in Mississippi after the Civil War. He was on the board ofdirectors of the Milton Water Company. He could always be foundwherever good friends, good food and good conversation were to behad. He will be missed by all the lives he touched.

The family request donations to Louisianahonorair.com or theMilesperretcenter.org in lieu of flowers.

A celebration of his life will be held for his family andfriends at a later date. Martin and Castille Funeral Home inLafayette, is in charge of arrangements.

Online memorials may be made athttp://www.asimas.com/ASIMAS/martin/TributeView.jsp?domain_id=157&deceased_id=150181.