July 8, 1950 ~ Jan. 25, 2021
Our beloved Husband, Father, Grandpa, Brother, Uncle, Cousin, Teacher, Coach and Friend, Phillip Angus Blad, returned to his Heavenly home on Monday, January 25, 2021 in Provo, Utah, at age 70.
He was lovingly surrounded by his wife and children when he peacefully left this mortal life.
Phil was born July 8, 1950 in Payson, Utah, and was the sixth of nine children born to Loueda Allan Blad and Carl Hamblin Blad. He was finally able to embrace his older sister Carla Jean, who returned to her Heavenly home at birth. Phil was one of seven rowdy boys and one angelic sister. He married his sweetheart, Sharon Mae Simmons on August 25, 1972 in the St. George, Utah Temple. They were blessed with five beautiful children, Chris, Shanette, Dave, Mike and Stacia.
In his life history, Phil recorded that his mom told him he was born two weeks early because of a car accident that scared him right out of her, and that he had been a terror ever since that time. He lived in Payson, Utah until he was one and then his family moved to Salem, Utah where his father ran the local gas station. Salem was a wonderful place for a young boy to live. Living next to the Salem Pond was Heaven on earth for an adventurous young boy who loved to fish, hunt birds, swim and ice skate! Phil loved the outdoors and spent many days chasing birds, fishing and swimming in the pond, playing in the ditch, and walking in the lower fields looking for snakes, squirrels, frogs and other interesting creatures that sometimes got him in trouble!
He developed a love of sports by watching his older brothers play, and started playing little league baseball when he was seven years old. Phil participated in the Pentathlon from ages 8-11 and won the local school and regional contest 4 years in a row. He was lucky enough to finish 11th, 3rd, 2nd and 1st in the SLC finals.
Phil lettered in football, baseball, basketball and track at Spanish Fork High School. He was also Seminary President his senior year and graduated in 1968. He received a leadership and baseball scholarship to BYU, where he attended for one year before serving a two year mission to the Japan West Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. He loved the Japanese people! Before his mission, Phil had been drafted by several major league baseball organizations and was hoping to pursue a career in professional baseball when he returned, but due to health issues was unable to pursue that dream.
He then attended UNLV, where he met and married his eternal companion, then moved to Cedar City, Utah where he attended SUSC and graduated with a Bachelor's Degree in Education. Mrs. Kennison, Phil's 7th grade teacher, was his inspiration to become a teacher. He moved his family to Kanosh, Utah in 1981 and was fortunate enough to teach 7th and 8th grade Algebra, Science, Health and PE at the Fillmore Middle School for 31 years. His classroom was adorned with deer, elk, fish, ducks, water fowl, fox and a bald eagle. He created an atmosphere of adventure and learning. He loved his students and could see the value and potential in each one. He was named Teacher of the Year in 2005-2006 for Fillmore Middle School.
Phil was an endless prankster and loved to tease his fellow co-workers and students. He cherished his time with those he taught, coached and worked with. He coached many sports from little league baseball and football to Junior High wrestling and girl's Junior High basketball, as well as High School baseball and wrestling. He developed lifelong friendships with those he coached and coached with. He helped accomplish seven state championships.
He served in many church callings including Scout Master, Primary, Sunday School, Young Mens, Stake Girl's Camp Quartermaster, Ward Missionary, Manti Temple Ordinance Worker and Home Teacher. He loved all of his callings but his favorite was scouting. Phil had a passion for hunting and fishing. He cherished his many hunting and fishing trips with his brothers and sons. If Phil wasn't catching fish, everyone knew there were no fish to be caught! One of his greatest joys in life was spending time at the cabin at Otter Creek, which he helped design and build. He felt the cabin was a peaceful and sacred place and he loved to be there with his family. He looked forward twice a year to the couples' reunion with his siblings and their spouses, where there were always games, great food and that contagious jovial laughter from the Blad brothers, which could be heard from a mile away.
Phil had a love for life, a positive attitude and always saw the best in people. Despite his health limitations, he always had a smile on his face, never complained and enjoyed making people laugh. He cherished his country and his membership in the church. He had a strong testimony of the gospel and of Jesus Christ.
His greatest joy was his family. He took pride in his 20 grandchildren, ages 5 to 25, and tried to support them in their various sports and activities. Phil is survived by his wife, Sharon Blad, children, Chris (Melanie) Blad, Shanette (Brent) Bergener, Dave Blad, Mike (Sarah) Blad, Stacia (Josh) Leugers, and 20 amazing grandchildren. He is also survived by his siblings Blaine Blad, DeVon (Pauline) Blad, Merlin (Lois) Blad, Rinda (Ray) Christensen, DaleLynn (Denine) Blad, Paul (Carolyn) Blad, Kent (Ann) Blad. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Loueda Blad, sister Carla Jean Blad, sister-in-law Janell Blad, nephew Allan Blad, sister-in-law Virginia Blad.
Funeral services will be held Monday, February 1, 2021 at 11 a.m. at the Kanosh Ward Church. A viewing will be held for friends and family on Sunday, January 31, 2021 from 6 to 8 p.m. at Olpin Stevens Mortuary in Fillmore, Utah. There will be a viewing for family Monday, February 1, 2021 from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at the Kanosh Ward Church. Interment will be at the Kanosh Cemetery under the direction of Olpin Stevens Funeral Home. Online condolences can be offered at www.olpinstevensfuneralhome.com. Funeral is to be attended by family only but everyone is invited to watch the Funeral Stream at https://youtu.be/bHaumG8-Xvc. To all those attending please practice social distancing and wear a mask.
