Philip D. “Phil” Mack, age 76, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, June 1, 2012.  A Funeral Mass will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, June 6, 2012, at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg, SD.  Fr. Ken Koster will officiate.  Music will be provided by Eileen Lindner as organist with the church choir and Anita Mack as soloist.  Eucharistic ministers will be Nick and Sharon Mack and the lector will be Keith Mack. 

Burial will be at Holy Rosary Catholic Cemetery in Kranzburg.  Honorary pallbearers will be Phil’s nieces and nephews and all of the local barbers.  Active pallbearers will be: Matthew Mack, Justin Mack, Jon Mack, Murphy Mack, Cullen Mack and Francis Mack. 

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel on Tuesday from 2 to 4 p.m. and will resume from 6 to 8 p.m. at Holy Rosary Catholic Church with a 7:00 p.m. Scripture Wake service followed by a Rosary.  Visitation will continue prior to services at the church on Wednesday.

Phil was born on July 18, 1935, on the family farm near Bemis, SD, to Nicholas and Eleanora (Heyn) Mack.  He attended Holy Rosary boarding school and was a 1954 graduate of Waverly High School and a 1953 graduate of Molar Barber College in Fargo ND.  At the encouragement of his brother Francis he went to barber school between his junior and senior years of high school; then did an apprenticeship and earned his Master Barber License under his brother. The brothers operated Mack's Barbershop together until Francis' death in 1985; then Phil continued on his own until 2010.  Phil worked as a barber for a total of 58 years.  He loved cutting hair at the barbershop for clients and at home for friends and family but also gave haircuts for those who could not come to him at hospitals, nursing homes, private homes, jails, and funeral homes.  He was fond of saying "If they came to me when they could - I'll go to them when they can't come to me."  Phil was also a life long farmer working on his own farm or with his parents or brothers.  Additionally he sold Moorman's Feeds for 10 years from 1985 to 1996 often garnering the top salesman slot in his district.

On July 13th 1959, Phil married Alice Lenards at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Waverly, SD and they were blessed with 53 years of marriage.  Phil was an involved parent and grandparent who loved watching his children and grandchildren participate in their various activities. He was a lifetime member of Holy Rosary Catholic Church where he served as a Eucharistic minister, a lector and was a member of the church choir.  He also sang with the St. Francis Men’s Choir.  He was a member of Knights of Columbus and Catholic Order of Foresters where he served as ‘Chief Ranger’ for several years.  Phil was a member of the SD Barbers’ Association and served in the SD Army National Guard from 1958 to 1961.  He was a member of the Sioux Valley Credit Union for 44 years and served as president for 21 years.

Phil is survived by his wife, Alice, of Watertown; his five children: Robert Mack of Watertown, SD, Hugh (Cari) Mack of Redfield, SD, Eric (Sandy) Mack of Velva, ND, Neal (Teri) Mack of Watertown, SD, and Anita Mack of St. Paul, MN; 15 grandchildren; two brothers: DuWayne (Rita) Mack of Bemis, SD, and Robert (Dorothy) Mack of Manteca, CA; one sister-in-law, Mary Frances Mack, of Castlewood, SD; and one brother-in-law, Ed Friske, of Castlewood, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; four brothers: Francis, Anthony, Aloysius and Ralph; and one sister, Mary Ann Friske.