Phyllis Most

Phyllis Elizabeth Most (affectionately known as Fuddy) was born July 12, 1922 in Rock Elm Township, Wisconsin, to Carl and Marian (O’Connell) Wurtz. She grew up with her brother Keith and sisters Maxine and Janice, and attended Exile Rural Elementary School and Elmwood High School. Phyllis graduated from River Falls State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Education, and went on to earn a Master’s Degree in Education from the University of Minnesota.

Her first teaching position was at Nippersink Rural School in Dunn County, Wisconsin in 1941. Throughout her long successful career, Phyllis taught in several Wisconsin and Minnesota towns, but her last 25 years of teaching took place in Bloomington, Minnesota serving as an Elementary School Principal until she retired in 1983.

In 1989, Phyllis married her old college friend, Roger Most. They spent 23 wonderful loving years together in Prescott, Wisconsin, where Roger had retired as Postmaster. Grass did not grow under this couples feet in retirement. Together they played active roles in the Pierce County Historical Society, the establishment and building of Freedom Park at the confluence of the St. Croix and Mississippi Rivers, in St. Joseph’s Catholic Church where they were members, all school and sporting events at Prescott Schools, and in The Welcome and Heritage Center at the Prescott Gear House and Clock Tower. They were known for their remarkably productive raspberry bed and over the years regularly provided hundreds of pints of raspberries to friends and neighbors.

Phyllis and Roger spent many years traveling to beautiful places such as New Zealand, Australia, South America, Africa, Europe, Asia, Mexico, and Canada, when they weren’t traveling to visit with family and friends. Of all of the worldly travels, none could ever hold a candle to her favorite place, the Wurtz family farm, where she had grown up. Phyllis looked forward to the annual family reunions, historically held the first week of August, until the farm was sold in 1998. Phyllis moved to Richmond Hill, Georgia in 2013 where she enjoyed the southern hospitality and warm sunshine.

Phyllis was preceded in death by her parents; husband Roger; daughter Mary Jo Debol; brother Keith (Flora) Wurtz; sister Maxine (Arnold) Feiler, and brother-in-law Arthur Olson.

Phyllis is survived by he daughter Ann (Gene) Hoff; son-in-law Ken Debol; step sons Terry (Julie) Most and Steven (Teri) Most; sister Janice Olson; grandchildren Chris (Jenny) Hoff, Marty (Anne) Hoff, Kelly (Ean) Jones, Matt (Michelle) Debol, Ryan Most, Megan (Tyler) Manning, and Benjamin Most; great-grandchildren Logan Gilbertson, Emma Hoff, Jaxon Debol, Sam Hoff, Keira Jones, Chloe Hoff, Evan Jones, Carson Hoff, and Haydin Debol; special cousin Ramona Van Schoonhoven; and many loved nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held 5:00 – 8:00 pm Thursday, March 5, 2020 at O’Connell-Benedict Funeral Home, 1339 Orrin Rd., Prescott, WI, and one hour prior to Mass at the church on Friday. Mass of Christian Burial will take place 11:00 am Friday, March 6, 2020 at St. Joseph Catholic Parish, 269 Dakota St. S., Prescott, WI, with Fr. George Szews officiating. Interment will take place at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery. Memorials are preferred to St. Joseph Catholic Parish or Freedom Park in Prescott, Wisconsin.

Funeral services are entrusted to the O’Connell-Benedict Family Funeral Home of Prescott (715) 262-5404