Philip John Marek, 75, of Rochester, died Saturday, September 18 ^th , at his home, surrounded by his family, after a heroic battle with cancer.

He was born on May 19 ^th , 1935 in New Prague, MN to Frank and Mary (Jelinek) Marek.   He graduated from New Prague High School in 1953, after which he attended Dunwoody Trade school in Minneapolis, MN.  He joined the U.S. Navy in 1955, where he served aboard the U.S. Boxer Air Craft Carrier for the greater part of his enlistment.

After his honorable discharge in 1959, he was employed by Franklin Station, the power plant for the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.  He retired in 2000.  Phil was very active in the Boy Scouts of America.  He was an Eagle Scout, and served as Scoutmaster for Troop 186 of St. Francis Church for twelve years.  He  also served as Committee Chairman for both the Troop and the Cub Pack, and remained active both with the leaders and scouts of Troop 186, well after his retirement. He is the father of two Eagle Scouts, and a First Class Girl Scout.  It's safe to say that after his wife and family, Troop 186 was the love of Phil's life. He was a longtime member of the Hiawatha District Camping Committee, was a Vigil member of the Order of the Arrow, and was honored with the Silver Beaver and the George Meany award.

Phil is survived by one sister, Frances Herban of Ludington, MI, his wife of 54 years, Beverly (McGuire), six children, Patrick (Maureen) of Winona, Peg Constantine (Charles) of Faribault, Mary Beth Dotson (Cory) of Owatonna, Kathleen Gleich (Peter) of Hastings, Robert (Kim) of Rochester, and Teresa Kube (Nick) of St Peters, MO.  He has 19 grandchildren, Sarah Landman, Michael, Mathew, James, and Moira Marek, Kathryn Childrey and Megan Zetzman, Jennifer and David DeRose, Mary, Elizabeth and Anne Gleich, Ryan, Corey, Conner, and Nathan Marek, Maggie, Mollie, and Meghan Kube, and one great grandson, Matthew Zetzman.   He was pre-deceased by his parents, one brother, Robert, and one granddaughter, Teresa Marie Gleich.

A funeral Mass will be at 11:00AM, Wednesday, September 22, 2010 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with the Rev. Timothy T. Reker officiating.  Visitation will be 5:00PM – 8:00PM, Tuesday, September 21, 2010 at the Macken Funeral Home with a remembrance sharing time at 7:00PM and also one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday.  All scouters who have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout or have been honored with Silver Beaver are encouraged to wear their medals in honor of Phil.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are encouraged so that the family can disburse them to Phil's favorite charities, including Troop 186.

On-line condolences are welcome at www.mackenfuneralhome.com.