Philip Earl Root

Philip Earl Root of Overland Park, KS, 61, passed way Tuesday, February 6, 2024.

A celebration of life will be held in Olathe, KS at Penwell-Gabel Funeral Home, 14275 Black Bob Rd., on Saturday, February 24, 2023 at 1:30 pm with visitation following the service. A private burial service will be held at Mount Hope Cemetery in Topeka, KS at a later time.

Phil was born on March 7, 1962 in Springfield, MO to Chester Archie Root and Carolyn Sue (Lacey) Root. He grew up in Topeka, KS graduating from Shawnee Heights High School in 1980. Growing up Phil was inquisitive, quick witted, and intellectually gifted. In high school he participated in debate, model united nations, the show choir, and was a drum major of the marching band in his senior year. Following high school he graduated from Washburn University in Topeka, KS where he was a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity, an organization he remained active in throughout his life.

Phil's intellectual curiosity spanned a wide range of interests, but he especially loved history and politics which lead to a lifelong career in the legal field. Following his time at Washburn he moved to Omaha, NE before moving to the Kansas City metropolitan area in the late 1990s where he resided until his passing. In Omaha and the Kansas City metropolitan area he served as a paralegal for multiple law firms and became known as being gifted in a wide range of legal specialties with his most recent employer commenting that Phil "could do it all, every legal specialty." He also prepared taxes during tax season working for H&R Block for many years before starting his own tax preparation service.

Throughout his life Phil maintained a close relationship with the Presbyterian Church. Growing up he was an active member of Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church in Topeka, KS which included his parents and grandparents among its founding members. His faith led him to become ordained as a lay pastor and he filled the pulpit for many Presbyterian churches in northeast Kansas on a temporary basis, including serving a few Sundays at Saint Andrews in Topeka.

In his spare time, Phil enjoyed playing games online with his friends. He started and ran a discord gaming community with over 300 active members.

Phil is survived by his brothers Thomas Root, Waukee, IA and Yukihiro Mizutani, New York, NY, his niece Alison Roe, Waukee IA and nephews Jacob Roe, Waukee, IA and Douglass Roe, Thornton, CO.

He was preceded in death by Chester Archie Root (father), Carolyn Sue Root (mother) and Lacey Carolyn (Root) Grey (formerly Roe) his sister.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Great Plains SPCA and Saint Andrews Presbyterian Church, 1821 SW 37th Street, Topeka KS 66611.

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