Service Details
Services celebrating Philip’s life will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 11:30 am with Fr. Steve Varghese, SAC officiating. Entombment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 9:30 – 11:30 am.
Memorial Suggestions
In memory of Phil, memorials to his favorite organization: Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters (585 County Road Z Sinsinawa, WI 53824-9701) or to the charity of one’s choice have been suggested.
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Racine – Philip Joseph Demski, age 78, passed away peacefully at Ascension All Saints Hospital on Saturday, December 9, 2023.
Philip was born in Milwaukee to Gust and Pauline (nee: Blazejewski) Demski. When Philip was only age 6, his father died suddenly, leaving his mom to be a single parent with an only child. The compassionate nuns from the Dominican Sisters of Sinsinawa stepped in to help get the young, devastated family back on their feet. The generosity of the nuns stuck with Phil for the rest of his life and was a continued vocal and financial advocate for the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters.
Phil was a graduate of St. John’s Cathedral High School in Milwaukee in 1963 where he established an extensive lifetime circle of friends. He went to earn his B.S. from University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee in 1968. In 1968, he joined Vista and was located in South Chicago. Then he attended UW-Milwaukee to obtain his Master’s in 1972. Phil was employed as a well-respected Probation Parole Agent for the State of Wisconsin Department of Corrections for many, many years retiring in 2006.
During adulthood, when he wasn’t working, Phil was a worldwide traveler – making it across the globe especially throughout Europe and Asia. On May 24, 2014, Philip was united in marriage with the love of his life, Carol Lynn Hovorka. They were members of St. Joseph Catholic Church in Racine. Phil was a longstanding Knights of Columbus – 3rd Degree Council #1709 in South Milwaukee.
To say Philip was an extreme sports fan is an understatement. He had such fond memories of attending the Milwaukee Braves baseball games as a child with his mother. He switched over as a Chicago Cubs fan when the Braves left Milwaukee. Later became a Brewers fan. He was such a Green Bay Packers fan that he attended Ray Nitschke’s funeral. Philip has played baseball with his buddies his entire life on the “Codgers and Sons” Milwaukee team, where he was inducted into the Hall of Fame and given an eternal front row seat for being their greatest fan.
Philip, affectionately known by his friends as “Flipper” and “Moose”, was a self-taught jokester and had such a unique sense of humor. He was always there for everyone with a smile and a corny joke (good or bad – mostly bad) and loved spreading good vibes throughout our community. Proud of his Polish heritage, Phil was a great and knowledgeable Milwaukee historian who was always up for a game of Sheepshead with anyone who would play.
Surviving are his loving wife, Carol Lynn Hovorka-Demski; their son, Christopher (Jennifer) Hovorka, Sr.; grandsons, Christopher Jr. and Benjamin Hovorka; sister-in-law, Debra (Terry) Aul; brother-in-law, Richard (Gail Baker) Hovorka, Jr.; close cousins, Phil (Linda) Petersen and Emmett (Janine) Petersen; nieces, nephews, other relatives and many, many friends – too numerous to mention all by name.
Services celebrating Philip’s life will be held in Draeger-Langendorf Funeral Home on Monday, December 18, 2023 at 11:30 am with Fr. Steve Varghese, SAC officiating. Entombment will take place in West Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial luncheon will follow. Visitation will be in the funeral home on Monday from 9:30 – 11:30 am. In memory of Phil, memorials to his favorite organization: Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters (585 County Road Z Sinsinawa, WI 53824-9701) or to the charity of one’s choice have been suggested.
A heartfelt note of thanks to the wonderful staff of Ascension All Saints Hospital and to Lakeshore at Siena for the compassionate care and support given in Phil’s time of need. May God bless all of you!
Scott P. Borchert says
Flip was a great friend and sailing buddy for many years. I first remember him striding across campus at UWM. He was larger than life, always, and had important issues to discuss, fun things to get done and always a joke.
While he was know for his humor, he is best remembered for his dedication and professionalism as a corrections officer and commitment to his career, his family and friends.
He was a sweet, caring human being and all those who had the privilege of knowing him are forever blessed by his memory and many kindnesses.
Tom “Skip” and Barbara Dunst says
We are saddened to hear of Flip’s death. We have such fond memories of him. We loved how he always had that pocket notebook with him to record any good jokes he’d hear. Such a fun-loving guy. Our thoughts and prayers are with Carol now.
May he rest on peace. I’m sure he had a good joke for St. Peter when entering the pearly gates. .
Paul Troglia says
I’ll always remember our trip to California in 1967. We were 21. We roared across Nevada in the GTO, went to Vegas and saw signage for Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis–man, we were in there hotel! We shook hands with Joe Louis, the greeter at Caesar’s Palace, hit LA on 66, dropped down to Tijuana where seat covers and dynamite were offered for sale by street vendors, put on suits and ties for the fancy restaurant in San Francisco then walked out with our dignity intact when we saw the menu–an order of peas was $2 We stopped to smell the roses at Haight-Ashbury, stood right under the street sign, then drove those 2 girls, Fawn and the other one named after a galaxy to Sausalito, Crossed the Golden Gate. What a world we saw! Glad to have known you all these years. You put up a good fight. I wish you coulda won it.
Cindy Herb says
Phil and I first met when I started working at the DOC Center Street office 25 years ago and we got along right from the start. He was a mentor, a respected colleague and he made me laugh. He will always be a special person in my memories and I’m certain many others feel the same. Condolences to the Hovorka family.
Floyd BLAZejewski says
I remember Philip as a young jokester city boy. When he visited up in Northwestern Minnesota to the blazejewsk family area.
Pauline and Philip came up to visit. And I’m so sorry to hear about his passing. Maybe the special memories you made together with help you through these difficult times It’s signed Floyd blazejewski
Floyd Blazejewski says
I remember Phil and his mother coming up to northern Minnesota for a visit to auntie. Pauline’s brothers and I. I’m sorry to hear about Philip passing away the special memories you made together. It will help you through these difficult times