Philip Anthony Vossen

Philip Anthony Vossen, age 90, of Watkins, MN passed away on Thursday, December 4, 2025 at Hilltop Healthcare Center. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, December 9, 2025, 11:00 AM at Saint Nicholas’ Catholic Church, 15862 CR-165, Watkins, MN. A visitation will be held on Monday, December 8, 2025, from 4:00 – 8:00 PM at Ertl Funeral Home and will continue one hour prior at the church. Parish Prayers will be at 4pm at the Funeral Home.

Philip Anthony Vossen was born on January 14, 1935, to Frank and Christine (Heinricks) Vossen, at the family farm in Watkins, MN. He attended Eden Valley-Watkins High School graduating with the Class of 1952, and within that same year, joined the United States Army where he served in Texas, Missouri, and Louisiana. On June 18, 1958, Philip and Avon were united in marriage at Saint Anthony’s Catholic Church in Watkins, MN. Philip was a hard worker and worked at the Watkins Creamery, Mies Implement in 1958, as well as being a bookkeeper, and a parts man. In 1983, Philip worked as a salesman at Heartland Equipment in Sauk Centre and also tended to and lived on the farm in rural Watkins, where he resided for 87 years.

Philip was a lifetime member of the Knights of Columbus, part of the Catholic Aid Association and Men’s Society. He enjoyed baseball and was part of the Watkins Clippers 1959 Baseball champs. Philip was an active person and was a member of mixed couples and men’s bowling leagues, went golfing three times a week at the Kimball golf course, went on mystery tours, and could spend hours fishing.

Philip is survived by his wife Avon Vossen of Eden Valley, MN; children Ann (Don) Illies of Bemidji, MN, Andrew (Darlene) Vossen of Litchfield, MN, George (Teresa) Vossen of Hager City, WI, Patricia (Curt) Kaehler of Dewey, AZ, Francis (Lisa) Vossen of Watkins, MN, and Janice (Kevin) Wuebkers of Freeport, MN; siblings Marion (Ardell) Finken of Grabill, IN, Kenneth (Charlotte) Vossen of Watkins, MN, Evie Kalthoff of Monticello, MN, James Vossen of Waite Park, MN, Ralph (Betty) Vossen of Watkins, MN, and Helen Trisko of Waite Park, MN; seventeen grandchildren, and fourteen great-grandchildren with two on the way.

He is preceded in death by his infant son Craig Vossen, son and daughter-in-law Anthony “Tony” (2007) and Rita Vossen; parents Frank and Christine Vossen; great-granddaughter Ella Vossen; and brother Harold (Jane) Vossen, sister-in-law Anita Vossen, and brother-in-law Bob Trisko.