Philip Mayercak

Philip Mayercak, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and brother was born July 2nd  1947, and died at home in his wife’s arms on March 24th , 2022, at the age of 74. He was born in Detroit, Michigan and grew up in the central Michigan area as the oldest of seven siblings.

Phil joined the Navy in his senior year of high school, reporting for service in June. He served four years alongside his lifelong friend Wade Sumner at the Naval Air Station Jacksonville. Furloughs spent with Wade and his family were the happiest memories of those years. Upon honorable discharge, Phil moved to Lansing, Michigan where he embarked on a 30-year career with the Treasury Department, State of Michigan in the Computer Operations center.

Family and friends meant everything to Phil. He loved his daughters, granddaughters, and grandson immensely. Early years were spent playing softball and bowling in leagues with friends and coworkers. An avid sports fan Phil followed MSU football, MSU basketball, PGA golf, the Detroit Tigers, and yes, even the Detroit Lions. He attended the last game the Tigers played at Tiger Stadium in the Corktown neighborhood of Detroit. Playing golf, spending endless hours watching the girls swim competitively with the Holt Swim Club, coaching his girls in softball and traveling to games, or vacationing with his family were a few of the activities Phil loved. Among his daughters’ favorite memories are trips to Disney with Kathie Jo, fishing with Niki, and monthly breakfast outings with Jackie. Trips to Lake Dillon, Disney, San Diego Zoo, the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean, Cape Cod, Niagara Falls, and a Mediterranean cruise with stops in Italy, Monte Carlo, France, and Spain are just a few of the many taken over the years. He often told his wife Ruth he wanted to travel wherever she went.

Phil never met a stranger. While traveling in Prague, he carried on a conversation with Jay Bush (of Bush’s Beans commercial fame) as if they were old friends. He valued his many close friendships over the years, Dick Crawford, Gary Cass, Bill Burke, Tim McNamara, Randy Southwell, and many others. His uncanny ability to recite all the Super Bowl games, which team won, and the final score, won many a bet. Upon meeting another Philip, he would always ask “one L or two?” followed by “I’ve yet to meet a three L Philip”!

Phil is survived by his wife of 46 years, Ruth of Aurora, Colorado, daughters, Kathie (Wenda) Etris of Jacksonville, Florida, Jackie (Andy) Haney of Denver, Colorado, Niki (Matt) Cody of Laguna Niguel, California, his precious grandchildren, Angelena, Emma, Avery, Vivi, Milania, and Leo. Also surviving are his brothers Paul (Jean) Mayercak, Glen Mayercak, sisters Mary Anjill, Margie Grewe, many nieces and nephews, and a large extended family. He was preceded in death by his mother, Loreen Goffnet, father, John Mayercak, infant brother, and sister Dorothy Lootens.

A Celebration of Life gathering is scheduled at Buddies Grill, 2040 N. Aurelius Road, Holt, Michigan, 48842, on Saturday, June 25, 2022. In lieu of flowers, the family wishes any donations in memory of their beloved Philip Mayercak be directed to support Neurosurgery-Gen Research at the Children’s Hospital of Michigan. Checks should be made payable to Children’s Hospital of Michigan Foundation, 3011 West Grand Blvd, Ste. 218, Detroit, MI 48202. The support goes to the Neurosurgery program at Children’s Hospital of Michigan. A CHM Neurosurgeon is currently conducting research on the use of Virtual Reality to improve surgical outcomes in brain surgery (3D modeling and surgical planning) and to improve the patient and family experience (helping the family to visualize the planned surgery).