Dawn M. Phillipsen, age 57 of Waupaca, WI passed away on Saturday, June 15, 2024 after a courageous battle with cancer.
Dawn was born on December 16, 1966; daughter of Barry and Carolyn Larsen in Barron WI. After graduating college with a degree in Architectural and Commercial Design, she began working with Ayres and Associates in Eau Claire, drawing military maps for the US government. On September 16, 1989, she married Richard Phillipsen in Rice Lake. They moved to Neenah, WI where she worked for R.J. Acord Architects where she also developed her love for Chinese food. Bob Acord was instrumental in helping her start her own architectural and design company when Dawn and Richard moved to Waupaca. Dawn ran her own business until her sons graduated, then went to work for Drexel Building Supply in Berlin, a company she loved to work for” supplying happiness”.
Dawn is survived by her husband, Richard “Dick” Phillipsen of Waupaca; sons, Thomas (Mckenna) Phillipsen of Appleton; Ryan Phillipsen of Appleton; granddaughter, Ellie Rae Phillipsen; her mom, Carolyn Larsen and brother Garrett Larsen both of Rice Lake, sister Dessi Larsen and sister-in-law Neda Larsen both from Hudson, Brother-in-law William Reinke of Duluth, MN; special aunt Barbara Hennigar of Denver, CO. Along with numerous nieces, nephews, aunts and uncles. She is also survived by her mother Susan Reeves from Barnswell, SC. Dawn was preceded in death by her father Barry, a sister Alyce and brother Bryant Larsen.
Dawn’s family would like to thank the ThedaCare family for their help over the last 30 months and Daisy Boehm, APNP who was with us for the entire 10-year cancer journey, Dr. Butkiewicz Dr. Happ, Dr. Schmidt, Dr Ray, RN Sam for your words of encouragement, along with the entire Hospice team, especially Krissy and Breann. We would also like to thank Dawn and Dick’s employers and employees at Drexel and Farmer State Bank for giving them the time they needed to be together these last 30 months.
Funeral Service will be held at 12 Noon on Saturday, June 22, 2024, at Holly Funeral Home in Waupaca. Visitation will be held from 10:00 am until time of service at Holly’s. Private family burial will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, Dawn’s wishes are for you to send flowers to a friend you haven’t seen in a while or take a friend out for breakfast. Donations can also be made to ThedaCare-Waupaca Hospice or The Waupaca County Humane Society.
