FEDDERSEN, Phil H.

FEDDERSEN, MCROBERTS

Posted By: Nettie Mae (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

Phil Feddersen, beloved son, brother, husband, father, and uncle passed away peacefully and with loving care at his home in Clinton, Iowa on July 20, 2019. Phil was born October 9, 1926 in Clinton to Herbert and Helga Feddersen and was a fun-loving and protective brother to his little sis, Helen Feddersen (McRoberts).
Upon graduation from Clinton High School, Phil enlisted in the U.S. Army where he served in Korea until 1946. Phil married Ruth Seymour from Clinton on March 20, 1949 and graduated with a Bachelor of Architecture from Iowa State College in 1951. The 1948 Architectural Forum dedicated to the work of Frank Lloyd Wright was a major influence on Phil's design career. At the dedication of the Unitarian Church in Madison, Wisconsin, Ruth encouraged Phil to introduce himself to Mr. Wright. He told Mr. Wright that he was soon to be a registered architect at which Mr. Wright reportedly replied, "Good, we need plenty of honest architects."
Phil worked as an architect and registered professional engineer for Paul Rossiter in Dubuque, Iowa from 1951 until 1956, when Phil was hired as a structural engineer by architect and Wright apprentice Alden B. Dow in Midland, Michigan. Phil also gained a reputation for his fine architectural renderings and draftsmanship. Ruth and Phil's son Frank was born in 1953 and Paul in 1958.
In 1959, Phil and colleague Robert Bell co-curated an exhibit of Wright's work that would be Wright's last exhibit during his lifetime. In preparation for the exhibit, Phil talked extensively with Mr. Wright. Phil was given the honor of designing the cover to the 1959 Michigan American Institute of Architects (A.I.A.) Bulletin dedicated to Mr. Wright. Shortly after, Phil established his private architectural practice in Clinton. From 1959 to 2000 his architectural designs incorporated Wright's Usonian principles of connecting living space with nature. His expressions of organic architecture can be seen in homes and businesses located in Clinton and Dubuque, Iowa and Fulton and East Dubuque, Illinois.
During this time Phil also began his longtime correspondence with master printer and publisher Carroll Coleman of the Prairie Press and University of Iowa. Phil began letterpress printing his own designs and organic abstractions on a platen press, creating chapbooks and keepsakes for nearly fifty years under the name The Fingernail Moon Press. This work has brought joy to his family, colleagues and friends around the world. Phil is preceded in death by his two sons, Frank and Paul and by his wife, muse and companion chef, Ruth. He is survived by his sister Helen (McRoberts) of Ames; four nephews, Jeff McRoberts (Andrea) of New York City, Kevin McRoberts of Des Moines, Andy McRoberts (Karlie) of Greeley, Colorado and Dan McRoberts (Erica) of Iowa City; as well as seven grand nieces and nephews and five great grand nieces and nephews. An upcoming celebration of Phil's life will be announced. Donations are welcome at Mercy Hospice and Camp Courageous in Phil's honor.
Snell-Zornig Funeral Homes & Crematory is honored to serve the Feddersen family and online condolences may be expressed by Phil's obituary at www.snellzornig.com.
Published on July 22, 2019