Philip John Rovang

Philip John Rovang passed away suddenly and peacefully on June 18, 2025, in the presence of his loving wife, Laura. Born on January 23, 1946, to Marvin and Gladys Rovang of Osage, IA, Phil was the third of four children. Throughout the 79 years of his life, his deep Christian faith informed his life decisions and accomplishments, always guiding his convictions and sense of justice. Phil lived a life of service to others. He was admired as a man of integrity, humor, and energy, and he was devoted to his family, friends, and community. He built what needed building and he fixed what needed fixing, often with his own hands, in his personal and professional life. Phil was the “family historian” which kept him connected to his roots. He was unceasingly kind, with a gentle and ever-present humor. Born in Eldora, Iowa, Phil grew up in the northern Iowa town of Osage. His early influences were his family and community, church, his siblings, his father’s work for the Iowa Farm Bureau, and his mother’s exuberance and self-expression in art and music. His grandmother often encouraged him to become a minister; while it would have suited him, he found other ways to live a life of service. Phil received his bachelor’s degree at Iowa State University in history with a plan to become a teacher. Due to the Vietnam War draft, he instead enlisted in the US Air Force, igniting his life-long love of flying. He flew the C-123 Provider out of Da Nang with over 500 sorties, often involving missions of mercy for US soldiers and local inhabitants. Because his squadron was stationed next to the China Beach Orphanage, he saw an opportunity to help, and he organized the men in his squadron to sponsor children and visit the orphanage when they were off duty. Even after the war, he and his wife, Laura, made attempts to continue to help the orphans by writing members of Congress to ensure their safety and to send aid. After deployment in Vietnam, Philip was stationed at the Air Force bases near Fort Walton Beach, FL and Blytheville, AK. In Blytheville, he concurrently earned his Master of Science in Management from the University of Arkansas. After retiring from active duty, he returned to Iowa State to earn a second Master of Science degree, this time in Urban and Regional Planning. Phil brought his leadership experience from the Air Force and combined it with his innovative ideas for regulating land usage to his planning career. He was the Director of Planning and Zoning for Scott County in Davenport, IA for 16 years with many accomplishments. One of his proudest achievements was overseeing the development and construction of the beautiful Tourism and Visitor’s Center overlooking the Mississippi River at LeClaire, IA. He also developed and implemented a comprehensive plan for future development in unincorporated areas based on soil quality, which limited urban development to areas of poorer quality soil, thus protecting the richest and best farmland in the world from indiscriminate development. This model is still being used by that county and others around Iowa to this day, ensuring that some of the richest soil in the world is still able to be farmed, and not lost to urban sprawl. Professional moves then took him out east to Westminster, MD, where he served as the Director of Planning and Development for Carroll County and then back to the Midwest as the Director of Planning, Building, & Development for Lake County, Illinois. He retired in 2010. Under his leadership the county’s one-stop-shop permitting and review system was created and implemented at the county’s campus in Libertyville, IL. While living in Davenport, and in addition to his full-time job with Scott County, Phil joined the Iowa National Guard as a support pilot. He flew out of Des Moines, IA, which meant most weekends he commuted 3 hours each way. He retired from the Guard in 1992 as Lieutenant Colonel with 21 years of military experience and over 3300 flying hours in four different aircraft. After moving to Lake County, he joined the Stick & Rudder Flying Club where he could fly a smaller plane in his off-time and took great joy that he could finally take his family on short flights so they could share special moments together. Phil also went above and beyond helping others in his church and community wherever he lived. While living in Illinois, he served as director and club president of the Lake Villa and the Lakes Area Kiwanis Club and served as an Illinois Regional Lt. Governor. He was a recipient of an Amador Award. As an active church leader and choir member at Wildwood Presbyterian Church, his greatest satisfaction came from mission trips to El Salvador, Haiti and various U.S. communities impacted by natural disasters. In retirement he volunteered at B.J. Hooper Elementary School, Lindenhurst, where he was known as “Mr. Science.” He lent his expertise by serving on the Lindenhurst Planning Commission and the Lindenhurst Veterans Memorial Commission. Spending time and connecting with his family was a great love for Phil and he frequently reached out to share updates over email. He was also a consummate storyteller, inventing whole holidays and fairytales that primarily revolved around his Norwegian ancestry. An avid outdoorsman, his life was filled with camping, boating, hiking, and gardening. He loved to go jogging and participated in many Bix 7 races in Davenport and local 5Ks. He traveled extensively across the world visiting countries across four continents. He remained a loyal Iowa State Cyclone sports fan and watched as many sporting events as he could. He also enjoyed watching the Cubs and hanging his W flag, listening to music, his men’s book club, and “breakfast with the guys.” In 2019, Phil was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. Not content to give in to the disease’s neurological progression, he refused to let the diagnosis slow him down. He participated in Micheal J. Fox Foundation research studies and helped organize a Parkinson’s Rock-Steady Boxing class at the Hastings Lake Y. He stayed positive and optimistic, even as his health challenges increased in number and severity. Phil is survived by his wife of 56 years, Laura (Wignall), their three children: Dana Rovang (Timothy Cornell), Chicago, IL, Megan Rovang (Jason Bench), Alamogordo, NM and Alex Rovang, Sedona, AZ, one grandchild, Ronen Cornell, his brother, David (Karen) Rovang, Forest Lake, MN, and two sisters, Julie (Don) Burton, Racine, WI and Mari Rovang (Howard Matheson) Warwick, MA. A memorial service will be held at Wildwood Presbyterian Church on August 23 with Visitation at 10:00 and Service at 11:00. Final inurnment will occur at Cedar Memorial Cemetery in Cedar Rapids, IA, at a later date. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial gifts be made to the Wildwood Presbyterian Church Adult Mission Fund, The Lake County Veterans’ Closet, and The Micheal J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. He was a good man who lived a good life. He has now been called home.

Philip John Rovang

January 23, 1946 - June 18, 2025

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