Phillips, Lyle Oswald (Ossie)
LYLE OSWALD (OSSIE) PHILLIPS
The Family of LYLE OSWALD (OSSIE) PHILLIPS are saddened to announce his passing on Thursday, July 10th, 2025, surrounded by family.
Dad, Papa, Great Papa had a phenomenal life and will now be reunited with Joanne, his wife of 68 years. He was very excited about meeting up with Mom so they could be together for their 73rd anniversary.
Dad went to King George Elementary School and Central Collegiate in Moose Jaw. The classroom was easy for him, so he liked to focus on extracurriculars. Mostly sports and especially hockey. He played 2 years in Moose Jaw with the Monarchs and the Canucks, both were Sask Juvenile Champions.
He received a scholarship to Ann Arbor, University of Michigan, where he studied engineering. In his words “engineering and I did not get along” he shifted his focus and played in the International Hockey League in Detroit. He was invited by the Detroit Red Wings coach Jack Adams to training camp, which lead him to Assumption College (now University of Windsor) where he played for 3 years with the Red Wings affiliate team, The Detroit Auto Club. In his final year he scored 26 goals out of 40 games with only 4 penalty minutes.
During that time, he decided to pursue law. He was accepted into the University of Saskatchewan Law Program, and he captained the Huskies Hockey Team all 3 years and received the McDonald Trophy for the most gentlemanly player. He graduated in 1953, came back to Moose Jaw with his new bride Joanne and articled with his father, John E. Phillips, and was called to the Bar in 1954.
Upon returning to Moose Jaw, he and his dad along with friends built their family home on 3rd NW beside his parents’ home. Very few things were contracted out in those days. Dave was born in ‘53 and Debbie in ‘54. They spent 28 happy years in that home.
One of Dad’s greatest joys was building the family cabin and spending the summers at Buffalo Pound Lake. Dad would commute to work, and Mom and the kids would just go and stay the summer. In the early years, there was no running water or telephone. It truly was paradise, with bread, milk, paper delivery and gas delivery for the boat. Waterskiing, horseshoe tournaments, huge discussions over broken pumps or boat motors were all a chance to get the guys together. Ossie commuted to town all those years maybe taking the odd Friday afternoon off.
Dad was a wonderful father, ensuring Dave and Debbie had every opportunity in education, sports and life. He supported and attended all their events.
Though quiet by nature he was very social. He was a lifelong member of the Moose Jaw Lions Club, serving as president and he had many leadership roles. He was honored with the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award for his service. Zion United Church was a very important part of his life, from attending Sunday school to teaching Sunday School to Chairman of Church council.
Ossie chaired the building committee for the YMYWCA building in Crescent Park, volunteered countless hours to Meals on Wheels, The Salvation Army Kettle Drive at Xmas, political campaigns and The Moose Jaw Canucks.
Dad was an avid hunter, curler, golfer, horseshoe player and skier both on snow and water. He associated with the starting of White Track Ski Hill and travelled on ski trips across Western Canada, the US and to Zermatt, Switzerland.
Dad and Mom always had a winter holiday, every 2nd year to Hawaii (22 times) and a lot of other warm vacation spots. Their favourite was the small Windjammer Cruises in the Caribbean with 20 or so of their closest friends. After Deb and Cal started to winter in Arizona they would extend their winter vacations there.
Anytime whether at the lake, MJ or anywhere if the whole family could be together that was a highlight for Dad. Family time was everything to Dad. When Cal and Gail were welcomed into the Phillips clan Dad was more than happy. He was devoted to his grandchildren and great-grandchildren, and he loved being at the lake with them. They all loved their Great Papa.
Lyle enjoyed his work. He was a fixture in downtown Moose Jaw walking to and from The Uptown Cafe where all the lawyers met for coffee breaks back in the day.
On January 4th, 2019, in a ceremony held at Government House in Regina, Lyle was presented with a Certificate by the Lieutenant Governor celebrating Lyle’s appointment to Her Majesty the Queen’s Counsel.
At 91, Lyle retired after 66 years practicing law — all in Moose Jaw. He initially focused on criminal law but the closer he came to retirement he focused on wills, estate planning and real estate. He worked for Chow McLeod during the last 13 years of his career, before deciding it was the right time to retire. He was the longest practising lawyer in Saskatchewan.
Dad was fortunate to live independently up until 11 months ago when he made the decision it was time to move.
Lyle is welcomed to the bright side of the road by his wife Joanne; his parents John and Mary Phillips; siblings: Muriel, Ken and Alta; Joanne’s family; and many dear friends.
Lyle is survived by his son, David (Gail) Phillips of Calgary; daughter, Debbie (Cal) Cowan of Moose Jaw; grandchildren: Matt Cowan of Nanaimo, Jason (Jen) Cowan of Calgary, Jocelyn (Scott) MacDonald of Whistler, and Brianna (Mick) Dulmage of Calgary; and great-grandchildren: Carter and Mason Dulmage, Cash and Frankie Cowan, Rio and Casey MacDonald. Also mourning: Gail’s daughter Witney (Lea) Austen and children Sam and Ryan Austen, Cody Rodriguez and children Cruz and Kaius Rodriguez; brother-in-law, Laurie Friesen and sister-in-law, Merla Gibson; and numerous nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank Dr. Haver for his professional and compassionate care the past 10 years, as well as the staff at Allan Blair Cancer Center, Dr. F.H. Wigmore Regional Hospital Doctors, and West Park Crossing Staff for their kind care.
A Celebration of Lyle’s Life will be held on Monday, October 6th, 2025 at 11:00 a.m. at Zion United Church, 423 Main St N in Moose Jaw. Those not able to attend may view the service by going to https://youtube.com/live/tB6ieMUAY9I. Memorial donations in Lyle’s name may be made to Moose Jaw Health Foundation, 55 Diefenbaker Drive, Moose Jaw, SK S6J 0C2 or Zion United Church, 423 Main St N, Moose Jaw, SK.
“To Live in Hearts we leave behind is not to Die”
Thomas Campbell
Arrangements are entrusted to Moose Jaw Funeral Home, 268 Mulberry Lane. Michelle Ellis, Funeral Director 306-693-4550
Deb, Dave and Families.
So sorry for the loss of your Dad. He was such a kind man.
Yes, Your Mom will be happy to receive him.
Love, hugs and Prayers to all the family
Cheryl (McLafferty) Miller
I am so sad to hear of Ossie’s passing. I’ve known him for many years, and never a more upstanding man could have been found. I knew him as a lawyer and as a friend in the past. My sincere condolences to his family and any who loved him.
My sincere condolences to Deb and family. So many great memories to reflect on, and help to find the smiles down the road.
Sincerely,
Glennys (Hannah) Holliday
Our deepest sympathy to Ozzie’s family, such a lovely gentleman. Always enjoyed visiting with him whenever we ran into each other. What a wonderful inspiration he was to anyone that knew him. Please know that you are in our thoughts and prayers during this sad time.
Your dad was a good friend and lawyer to our father Cal Barry( Audrey). Sorry for your loss. Patti & Len Arguin
I got to know Ossie at our fellowship time at Zion United Church. We would sit together for coffee and conversation downstairs, after the service. It was then that I learned all these interesting facts about his early life-many of which are mentioned above, and I was always amazed at his easy recall of events of 60 plus years ago. He was as sharp as a tack, & could be very funny.
I will miss these chats, & his quiet
presence. He was a true gentleman.
He will be missed.
Condolences to Cal and Debbie and the whole family . Ozzie was one the greatest lawyers in Moose Jaw . I remember him from the
Moose Jaw Ski club . He sure fun to bel around on ski vacations . ..He will be greatly missed .
Dave, Deb and family’s sorry to hear of your Dads passing! In my mind he was Gentleman and a scholar and was glad to have known him over the years in the Jaw! My condolences to you for the loss of your Father!
So sorry to hear of Ozzie’s passing. I really enjoyed getting to know him chatting with him after church. He had some great stories of he and my dad growing up on 3rd Avenue in Moose Jaw. What an accomplished man who lived a marvellous life.
So sorry to hear of the passing of Ossie. He was a great lake neighbor for more than fourty years.
We enjoyed many conversations with Ossie and Joanne. He was a gentleman and loved by many.
Sending sincere condolences to all the family. I know you have many great memories.
My deepest sympathies for such a great loss of your dad! I worked for him as his secretary up until he joined the office of Chow McLeod! He had a great sense of humour and if I accidentally booked him an appointment on his golfing afternoon I had to reschedule claiming I had double booked him! He never missed a coffee break and walked everywhere and was a man respected by so many!
I would run into every once in awhile and we did get together shortly after Joanne passed and we caught up on chatting about our lives!
Rest easy Mr P you will be missed!
Our condolences to the family & everyone else who had the pleasure of knowing Ozzie. He will be missed by many. He always had time to give a cheery hello to everyone. As a second cousin of Ozzie’s we always chatted about our families and how they were doing. His presence, caring & friendly demeaner will be missed by many but he will still be surounded by his loved ones who have passed on before him including Joanne, love of his life. Thank you Ozzie for being you and God Bless.
So sorry to learn of Ossi’s passing
He was such a joy to always have a chat with and made everyone feel like family .
He will sure be missed but not forgotten!
Our deepest condolences to Debbie and family on the passing of Ossie. He was a wonderful man and a special friend to. the Nant family. He will be sincerely missed.
I worked with Ossie at Chow McLeod, assisting him with his family law clients. Ossie was kind and considerate to all, demonstrated great empathy for his clients and was sharp as a tack. He had an old school work ethic – behind his desk every day before 9 am and didn’t leave until 5 pm. I will miss his mentorship, his smile and his sense of humour. RIP Ossie.