Northwoods Airlifeline | Iron Mountain Michigan

Welcome to Northwoods AirLifeline where volunteers working together perform miracles in the sky!

A 56 year old dialysis patient needs to be in Madison within 3 hours on a snowy winter’s night to receive a new kidney. A young boy’s appointment for leukemia treatments is an 8 hour drive away. A seven month old baby needs periodic examinations for her heart ailment in Minneapolis. A 33 year old woman injured in a motorcycle accident in Omaha is ready to come home but can’t travel by car.

These are real life problems faced by people living in Michigan’s beautiful but remote Upper Peninsula – problems which Northwoods AirLifeline was formed to address.

Obituary for Stephen D. Phillips

Homestead- Stephen D. Phillips, age 70, of Homestead, Wis., passed away Monday, November 11, 2019, at his home.

He was born April 9, 1949, in Detroit, Mich., son of the late Jack and Millie (Daley) Phillips. Steve graduated from Appleton West High School in 1967. He went on to proudly serve in the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War. On August 24, 1975, he married Patrice “Patti” Westfall in Marshfield, Wis. They resided in Kingsford, Mich. for a few years before moving to the countryside in Homestead.

Everyone who knew Steve knew how much he loved everything to do with airplanes whether it was building or flying them. His high school graduation gift was flight training. Later on he graduated from the Spartan School of Aeronautics where he became a licensed airplane mechanic. He was also one of the founding members, and longest flying pilot, of Northwoods Air Lifeline. He loved going to the EAA Oshkosh airshows and was also a member of EAA Chapter 439 where he would proudly give smiling kids rides during the Young Eagle days.

Steve was also known for his large heart. He smiled, laughed, and enjoyed the company of others. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, talking and driving cars, and visiting and having fun with his grandkids.

Steve is survived by his loving wife of 44 years, Patti Phillips, Homestead, Wis.; two sons, Christopher Phillips, Finland and Nicholas (Jessica) Phillips, Liberty, Missouri ; five very special grandchildren whom he cherished greatly, Liam, Max, Jake, Elliot, and Piper; a brother-in-law, Greg (Karen) Westfall, Plymouth, Mich.; a sister-in-law, Deborah Johnson, South Carolina; and a special cousin, Marilyn (Tim) Staehle, Northern Washington. Because Steve was an only child, his close friends were more like brothers, Daryl (Samia) Staehle, Northern Washington, Tom (Beth) Sullivan, Iron Mountain, Mich., Clyde (Dianne) Olive, Florence, Wis., and Mike (Christine) Donnick, Lakewood, Wis.; as well as many others.

Visitation will be held Saturday, November 16, 2019, from 2:00 p.m. until 4:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. Funeral services will be Saturday, 4:00 p.m., at the funeral home. Pastor Larry Neargarth will officiate. Military graveside services will be accorded in the spring.

Memorials in Steve’s memory may be made to Northwoods Air Lifeline.

You may leave a condolence or tribute for Steve’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.

The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich. to honor Steve’s legacy of life.

News:

Donation To Northwoods Airlifeline
Article by Iron Mountain Daily News (July 2019)

Range Bank recently donated $765 to Northwoods Airlifeline, which provides emergency flights at no cost for people who need medical treatment outside the area. The funds came from employee “dress down days,” when employees donate money to wear jeans to work. Proceeds then are given to organizations selected by the employees.

Northwoods Airlifeline honors Range Telecommunications for 20 years of service
Article by By Julie Williams

MARQUETTE, Mich. (WLUC) – What does it take to get someone the live-saving medical care they may need? Northwoods Airlifeline and Range Telecommunications say there is a lot of work that goes on behind the scenes.
Northwoods Airlifeline is a non-profit that provides air transport for Upper Peninsula residents to medical facilities outside of the U.P. Range Telecommunications provides 24/7 emergency and non-emergency answering services for Northwoods Airlifeline.
On September 6, Northwoods Airlifeline honored Range Telecommunications for 20 years of assistance. Both organizations say they could not provide the services they offer without the support of the other.
“Their support and what they’ve done is huge,” said Teresa Louys, Vice President and Fundraising and Public Relations Coordinator for Northwoods Airlifeline. “We have no paid staff, we’re all volunteers and they’ve allowed us to continue to be that way.”
“They provide such an important service to people and everybody in the Upper Peninsula is a potential user of their services,” said Dave Savolainen, President and Owner of Range Telecommunications.
Range Telecommunications has been in business for 45 years. They have assisted in more than 3,000 flights for Northwoods Airlifeline.