Phillip W. Eimers

Phillip Wesley Eimers peacefully started his new adventure on August 19, 2024. He was surrounded by people he loved, and he called the shots about his departure till the very end. Phil asked the tough questions and made the choices that were truest to him. If you knew Phil, this was how he lived his entire life.

He was born in Moscow, Idaho in 1949 to Maxine (Grover) Eimers and Charles William Eimers. From the jump, he was making people laugh and seeking out fun in any situation. Smoking cigars in the backyard as a first grader? Why not! Knowing if he made it out the door and to the fruit cellar before his sweet mother? She could never catch him when he needed a spanking!

Phil grew up in the small farming town of Grangeville, Idaho with his three brothers, Wiliam Jr., Jay, and Jan Paul. There were fields of camas to run through, folks in town to tattle on you, and mountains to ski and Phil and his brothers squeezed every last drop out of Grangeville. The day after Phil graduated from Grangeville High School, he moved to Lewiston, Idaho, because there was much more fun to be had there. He had a stint as a DJ at a local radio station and later called on his "radio voice" when telling jokes or disciplining his children.

A proud graduate of the University of Idaho, Phil would have been hard-pressed to recall the content of his classes that earned his Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, but the antics and pride of being a loyal Teke of the Tau Kappa Epsilon fraternity stayed with Phil for the remainder of his life. He also was an ROTC graduate and upon graduation entered into the U.S. Army as a 2nd Lieutenant. Afterwards, he attended Ranger School and Airborne School. He was awarded the Ranger Tag, Parachute Badge, and the National Service Defense Medal for his service to his country. 

His Army training took him to Texas where he met the love of his life, Linda Ellison. Their love story was one for the books, as they married after knowing each other for just five days and remained married until Phil's passing 52 years later. Linda was Phil's copilot on his adventures from there, moving to Germany, where he was stationed in the 62nd Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

After developing type 1 diabetes following the rigors of Ranger School, Phil was honorably discharged as a 1st Lieutenant and began his lifelong career with the Social Security Administration. While the fun may seem difficult to find in that line of work, it allowed Phil the freedom to move every few years to start a new adventure at each turn. While in Texas, Phil started another grand adventure and became father to two daughters: Lauren and Jaye. He was proud of his daughters and loved them very much, despite the fact he had to now hold off on the purchase of a convertible on which he'd set his sights.

Another big adventure was a move from the dry Texas plains to the mountains of Utah, so Phil could pursue his passion of becoming a ski instructor. After moving the family to Salt Lake City, Utah, he taught his kids to ski but was insistent they call him "Phil" whenever on the slopes. He became a certified instructor with the Professional Ski Instructors of America and taught for many years at Solitude, Snowbasin, and Powder Mountain resorts. You could always find him on the mountain after a fresh snow, as it was the Utah powder that he loved skiing the most.

Phil truly adored trying new things and he always returned to his many hobbies to fill his cup. He had turns golfing, mountain biking, playing racquetball, fishing, boating, hunting, woodworking, and skeet and trap shooting. His true loves were riding and working on his Harley motorcycles, playing his beloved pinball machines, skiing, and camping with Linda in their 5th-wheel trailer. In his later years, driving his BMW convertible with the top down around Pineview reservoir, blasting the Eagles, was a source of great joy for Phil. 

Phil is survived by his wife, Linda of Eden, Utah; his daughters and their partners, Lauren and Josh of Eagle, Idaho; and Jaye and Steven of Ogden; his four grandchildren, Olivia, Lou, Charlotte, and Rowe; his brothers and their wives, Bill Jr. and Karen of St. Maries, Idaho; Jake and Chandra of Grangeville; and Paul and Katy of Vancouver, Washington. Phil is also survived by nieces, nephews, cousins, extended family, and lifelong friends that continue to show their love and support to Phil's family. He joins his parents, Bill and Maxine.

Cremation has taken place and graveside services will be held on October 11, 2024, at 2 p.m. at the Meadow View Cemetery in Eden, Utah. Services entrusted to Lindquist’s Ogden Mortuary.

Phil’s wife and daughter, Jaye, suggest memorial donations may be made in his name to the Trump presidential campaign, the National Rifle Association, and The Wounded Warrior Project. 

The family would like to express their profound gratitude to the staff of the ICU at McKay Dee Hospital in Ogden and the VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City.