Philip "Phil" M. Scalise

Philip M. (Phil) Scalise, 76, Hibbing, died Tuesday, May 6, 2025, at his home in Hibbing. He was born February 22, 1949, to Philip and Lillian (Scinnocca) Scalise in Hibbing, MN. Phil graduated from Hibbing High School on June 9, 1967. He was conferred his Associate of Arts Degree with a major in Business Administration, from Hibbing Community College in Hibbing, MN on May 13, 1975, and was conferred his bachelor’s in arts degree with a major in Business Management and a minor in Psychology, from Moorhead State University in Moorhead, MN on May 26, 1978.

Phil began his employment life as a Newspaper Route Carrier, delivering the evening newspaper, for the Hibbing Daily Tribune, from 1961 to 1965. He was then employed by Chet Crippa at the Crippa Music Company Store at 313 Howard Street in Hibbing, from 1965 to 1969. Phil enlisted in the US Air Force on January 24, 1969, and served as an Air Cargo Specialist. He was a survivor from the war in the Republic of Vietnam, serving from November 25, 1969, to November 24, 1970. As a Vietnam war veteran, he helped many other veterans obtain the benefits they were authorized as Vietnam War Veterans. Phil was honorably discharged from the U.S. Air Force, from Holloman AFB, New Mexico, as an Air Transportation Supervisor, Staff Sergeant, E-05, on January 23, 1973. He enlisted in the Minnesota Army National Guard, at the Hibbing National Guard Armory on June 8, 1977, and served the military duties as Unite Administrative Sergeant, Unit Supply Sergeant, and Unit Transportation Supervisor, until his Honorable discharge for Retirement with the grade of Staff Sergeant, E-06, on January 3, 2005. He was employed with US Steel Corp. Minntac at Mountain Iron, MN during the summer months of his college education years and full-time after college, as a Concentrator Line Attendant, from June 19, 1978, to November 8, 1980. On November 16, 1980, Phil began his employment as a Unit Administrator for the Minnesota Army National Guard, Hibbing, with the Federal Civil Service Commission until his retirement as a Readiness Technician, GS-08, on May 14, 2005. After his retirement he was employed as a sales associate in the Deli by Wal-Mart Stores INC., in Hibbing from December 5, 2007, until his retirement on January 20, 2018. Phil was also a parishioner of the former, defunct and since deconstructed, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hibbing until 1997. Phil volunteered as an Extraordinary Minister of Holy Communion for the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Parish, from November 19, 2006 until his resignation of parishioner membership with the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church on October 1, 2007.

He was a member of the U.S. Army Retired Reserve, St. Louis, Missouri, and a Life Member of Veteran Foreign Wars Post 1221, Hibbing, Minnesota. Phil was a volunteer member at the Hibbing Historical Society Museum since October 25th, 2018, and served as a member of the Board of Governors for the Hibbing Historical Society and Museum, Inc. since October 1st, 2019. Additionally, Phil was appointed by the Hibbing City Council of Hibbing, Minnesota.

Phil was an avid genealogist, historian, author, and self-publisher, accompanied accordionist, woodworker, gardener, and photographer. He also followed in his father’s footsteps and was an avid model railroading enthusiast. He was very proud of his Italian-American heritage. Phil wrote and self-published the book he entitled: “The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Hibbing, Minnesota, An Illustrated History.” He also wrote several articles for the Hometown Focus, (a local publication), as a Hometown Focus Contributor, with such subject titles as: “Family History Detective – A Hibbing genealogist shares a journey into his family’s past” and “Cherished Holiday Memories – Remembering Italian Christmas traditions from years past.” Phil tried his best to complete his genealogical project of writing his family’s history for the future generations in which he entitled: “The Philip and Lillian Family History – A Family History by Philip M. Scalise.”

Phil is survived by his sister, Marie A. (Frank) Pierce, Hibbing, Minnesota, and her sons, Thomas P. Kearney, from Hibbing, Minnesota.

And her son, Michael P. (Kayla) Kearney, and their son, Traven from Moorhead, MN.

Phil is also survived by his brother, Pete and his sister-in-law, Liz (Kemp) Scalise, from Hibbing, MN, and their daughters, Holly J. (Eric) Rewertz, and their daughters, Lilly M. Johnson, her husband Tyler and their son Ross Johnson, Maddie J., and Claire A. Rewertz, and their son, Brayden D. Rewertz.

And their daughter, April (Scalise) Beel, from Hibbing, MN, and her sons, Trenton A. and Benjamin A. Beel.

Phil is also survived by his estranged sister, Rose Ann (Gene) Butrick, from Hibbing, MN and her daughter, Stacy A. Butrick from Alborn, MN and her sons, Joseph (Alex Andrea) Haag and his sons, Chase M. and Jasper G. Haag;

And Stacy’s son, Philip A. Haag, from Virginia, MN, and his sons, Carter M. and Emerson G.L. Haag, and his daughter, Willow J. Haag.

And her daughter, Anissa K. (Mark) Wakefield, from Tacoma, WA, and her sons, Harrison B. and Lincoln C. Wiermaa.

And hre daughter, Katilynn R. Hall from Duluth, MN, and Katilynn’s daughter, Grace L. Hobbs.

And their son, Dallas B. Wakefield and their daughter, Kelsy J. Wakefield.

Phil was also survived by his special friend, Dr. Kathy A. Johnson from Duluth, MN.

Phil is preceded in death by his parents, Philip and Lillian Scalise; his paternal grandparents, Agostino and Maria (Mascaro) Scalise; his maternal grandparents, Liberato and Antonia (Ricci) Scinocca; his brothers-in-law, Frank J. Pierce and Gene E. Butrick; his nephew, Gene E. Butrick II, who died so young at 37 years old; his great-niece, Ashley Wiermaa; several aunts, uncles, cousins, neighbors, and friends.

A Gathering of Family & Friends will be held 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 13th, 2025, at the Dougherty Funeral Home in Hibbing, MN. Graveside services & Military Honors provided by the Mid-Range Honor Guard will be held immediately following the gathering at 12:00 p.m. at the First Area Veterans Section at Maple Hill Cemetery in Hibbing, MN.

Honored monetary memorial gifts are preferred to the Hibbing Historical Society, 400 East 23rd Street, Hibbing, MN 55746 and/or the Mid-Range Honor Guard, 2010 5th Avenue East Apt. 409, Hibbing, MN 55746. Arrangements are entrusted with the Dougherty Funeral Home of Hibbing.