Serving Lucas, Ottawa, Sandusky and Wood Counties
Philip Kodak, known to most as Phil, passed away at the age of 78 in March 2026. He grew up on the farm in Oak Harbor and graduated from Oak Harbor HS. He was the son of the late Betty and Albert Kodak. He was a man of boundless curiosity, a love of conversation, and a genuine tenderness for the animals in his life.
Phil never met a topic he wasn’t willing to explore or a room he couldn’t fill with his voice. Whether he was holding court on a subject he’d just discovered, discussing the finer points of wine making, or sharing what he learned from watching the history channel, Phil had a way of making any conversation feel alive. His enthusiasm was contagious and his opinions were never hard to find.
His career as a chemical and environmental engineer suited him well; he was a man who wanted to understand how things worked and why, and he brought that same inquisitive energy to everything he touched.
Those who knew Phil well knew that his softest side came out around animals. He had a natural ease with them, patience and gentleness that was unmistakably genuine.
His passion for wine making and grape-growing ran deep. He found real satisfaction in working with the earth, in the craft of it, in the slow and deliberate process of turning something raw into something worth savoring.
He was preceded in death by his parents and brothers David and Albert Kodak. Besides his sister (Betsy) and brother (Douglas), he is survived by his son, Eric, his daughter, Tiffany, and his four grandchildren Darren, Christopher, Isabelle, and Oliver, who will carry forward his curiosity and his love for a good conversation.
He will be missed and long remembered.
A celebration of life service will be held on May 30th at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 9789 W Oak Harbor SE Rd, Oak Harbor, OH 43449 with visitation from 11-1 and the service at 1:00 and lunch to follow.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to: Wisconsin Humane Society (www.wihumane.org/donate) or Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission (MADACC), 3839 W. Burnham St., West Milwaukee, WI 53215.
