Fr. Glenn Phillips, OFM, 87, passes away in St. Louis

Fr. Glenn Phillips, OFM, 87, of St. Anthony of Padua Friary in St. Louis, passed away Monday afternoon, Oct. 27, 2025, at St. Louis de Greeff Hospice House at Mercy Hospital South as a result of pancreatic cancer. During his 66 years as a friar and 59 years as a priest, Fr. Glenn served in places ranging from Michigan and Wisconsin to Louisiana, devoting 19 years at St. Peter’s in Chicago. In his assignments, he served as pastor, associate pastor and guardian. 

Visitation will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 3, followed by the Funeral Mass at 11 a.m. at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 3140 Meramec Street, St. Louis, MO 63118. A luncheon in the parish hall will follow, with burial at the friars' plot in Saints Peter and Paul Cemetery, St. Louis. 

Fr. Glenn was born Oct. 5, 1938, to Robert and Edith (née Beste) Phillips in St. Charles (St. Louis), Missouri. He was baptized at St. Peter Catholic Church in St. Charles on Oct. 16, 1938. By 1948, his family had moved to Quincy, Illinois, and joined St. Francis Solanus Church, where he first met the Franciscans, and was confirmed on June 12, 1948. He attended St. Joseph Seraphic Seminary in Westmont, Illinois, and entered the Order of Friars Minor as a novice on June 21, 1958, in Teutopolis, Illinois, receiving the religious name of Glenn. He made simple vows on June 22, 1959; professed solemn vows on June 22, 1962, in Cleveland; and was ordained to the priesthood on Jan. 9, 1966, in Teutopolis. 

In 1966, he finished his pastoral formation at Our Lady of Angels Parish in Cleveland, Ohio, then taught at Quincy College (now Quincy University) in Illinois. From 1967 to 1969, he earned an MBA at Northwestern University while serving at St. Peter’s in the Loop Catholic Church, Chicago. He returned to teach at Quincy College from 1969 to 1971 before becoming associate pastor of St. Jude’s Parish in New Lenox, Illinois. After teaching at the college, he devoted nearly all his time to parish work. 

From 1972 to 1973, he served at Holy Spirit in Chicago, then again served as associate pastor of St. Hubert Parish in Chanhassen, Minnesota (1973 to 1977) and St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Oakville, Missouri (1977 to 1979). From 1979 to 1982, he was a pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish in Omaha, Nebraska, where he was also a guardian. He returned to Quincy, Illinois, in 1982, where he was associate pastor until 1984.  

Fr. Glenn then spent four years at St. James Parish in Riverton, Illinois, while also serving as pastor of St. Joseph Parish in Buffalo, Illinois. He returned to St. Peter’s in the Loop in Chicago as a confessor from 1986 to 1990. He served as parochial vicar of St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Petoskey, Minnesota, from 1990 to 1993 before returning to St. Jude’s Church in Lenox, Illinois, as parochial vicar.  

From 1993 to 2001, he served at Our Lady of the Lake Catholic Church in Ashland, Wisconsin, was pastor of St. Francis Parish in Red Cliff, Wisconsin, and Holy Family Catholic Church in Bayfield, Wisconsin (1993 to 2001), pastor of St. Ann Parish in Cornucopia, Wisconsin (1995 to 2001), and pastor of St. Joseph’s Parish on Madeline Island in La Pointe, Wisconsin. 

From 2001 to 2003, Fr. Glenn served in several parishes in Louisiana, including St. Thomas Aquinas, St. Benedict the Black, and Our Lady of Perpetual Help. He returned as confessor at St. Peter’s in the Loop from 2003 to 2016. Although he was a bit sad to leave St. Peter’s, he was glad to be going to St. Louis, where he would be near his family, whom he loved, and of whom he was an important and cherished member. His last nine years of ministry were spent as a chaplain with the Poor Clares and at Mercy South Hospital in St. Louis, two ministries that were new to Fr. Glenn, but in which he served gladly and wholeheartedly. From 2016 to 2018, he was a priest confessor at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in St. Louis.  

Fr. Glenn was a man of great energy. He always enjoyed staying busy. He liked to have a project to work on. Whether it be part of his priestly ministry, building a shrine to Our Lady in the back yard of the friary, teaching immigrants how to drive, raking leaves, mowing the lawn, shoveling snow, doing dishes – any work or ministry was his to do. When a brother needed help, he was quick to offer his services. He shared his views on community life with house chapters and the guardian.  

He had great devotion to the Eucharist. When he was no longer able to preside at Mass because of his illness, he made sure to attend Mass each day, until that too became too much. He liked to know what others were preaching about at Mass and what they were doing in their ministry. He was a man of strong convictions and opinions and relished a good discussion. He was a dedicated sports fan who closely followed his teams. 

In early September, Glenn was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. The doctors told him that he could try various types of treatments, but that they would probably only prolong his life for a few months. Glenn took the news as a man of great faith and decided not to do any treatment, but to let the disease run its course. He wanted to remain at St. Anthony of Padua Friary in St. Louis with his brothers and take part in prayer and community activities as long as possible. Finally, his illness became too great, and he moved to de Greeff Hospice House at Mercy South Hospital in St. Louis. He died there after only a few days on Oct. 27, 2025, with two of his Franciscan brothers at his bedside. 

May this sincere, holy, hardworking man of faith, who followed so closely in the way of St. Francis, now rest in peace, free of his suffering, with the God whom he loved and served so faithfully throughout his whole life. 

Fr. Glenn is survived by his brother friars of the Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe; nieces and nephews, Beth Ampleman (Rich), Janet Roth (Jeff), Bob Phillips (Sue), Rich Phillips (Karen), Keith Phillips (Diamarie) and Carol Brinkman (Ed). Great-nieces and great-nephews, Lisa Ampleman Warren, Anna Bilyeu (née Ampleman), Sarah Ampleman, Matt Ampleman, Alex Ampleman, Andrew Ampleman, Eric Gray, Katie Fasching (née Roth), Christopher Gray, Mary Krispin (née Phillips), Cathy Phillips, Julie Hayward (née Phillips), Jennifer Nguyen (nee Phillips), Robert Phillips, Christie Phillips, Michelle Wilson (née Phillips), Mike Phillips, Kevin Phillips, Maximilian Phillips, Chiara Phillips, Jenna Brinkman and Rachel Brinkman. 

His family continues with the generations beyond, including Jeremiah Warren, Blake Bilyeu, Charlie Bilyeu, Eleanor Ampleman, Rose Carpenter (née Mitchell), Joey Mitchell, Joshua Gray, Austin Fasching, Mckenna Fasching, Brayden Fasching, Kaia Fasching, Zoe Gray, Nadia Gray, David Krispin, Alexandra Krispin, Samantha Krispin, Christina Krispin, Teresa Krispin, Lucy Hayward, Rose Hayward, Theodore Hayward, Frederick Hayward, Noah Phillips, Ava Phillips, Scott Goodnough, Callahan Goodnough and Elena Mitchell. 

Fr. Glenn was preceded in death by his brothers, Bob and Mark; his parents, Robert Earl and Edith Helen Phillips (nee Beste); and his great-nephew, Ryan Brinkman. 

In your kindness, please consider a donation in Fr. Glenn’s name to the Franciscan Friars 

Province of Our Lady of Guadalupe, 129 West 31st, New York, NY 10001, or give online.