Phyllis Marie (nee VanGoethen) Nickchen (11/13/1941 – 11/11/2023) joined God's Angels just shy of her 82nd birthday after a valiant battle with leukemia.

Born to Cyril & Helen (nee Chervinko) VanGoethen in Berwyn, IL, & raised "up North" in her beloved Minocqua, Phyllis graduated from Lakeland HS & earned a BS in Physical Therapy from Marquette University.

Phyllis lived and worked a life of service. Her 40+ year, varied career as PT #106 in WI, spanned teaching at the Medical College of WI & MATC, sports medicine, rehab, and a focus in elderly care. She worked alongside surgeons and doctors in private practice, nursing homes such as Tudor Oaks, Heritage Square, and wellness clinics.

Among her pastimes, Phyllis loved gardening, outdoor activities, America and Mother Earth. She was a long-time volunteer, Human Concerns Committee Chair at St. Mary Church, and a MU Alumni Association Secretary. She spent 20+ years as a Youth 4H leader in Milwaukee County and founded the Whitnall Lucky Charms 4H Club. She also ran multiple volunteer PT/ exercise groups over the years.

Above all, Phyllis was dedicated to God through the Catholic Church and Schoenstatt Movement. Her pride and joy was being Founder/ Director/ President, since 1985, of the nonprofit Southside Pregnancy Help Center (SPHC) and Love Life Library (LLL), adjunct.

She was preceded in death by Gordon, her husband of 55 years, and is survived by her four children: Suzanne, Julie (Chris), John, & Dan (Meg); both siblings: Dianna & Phillip; and nine grandchildren.

Funeral Mass will be at Noon, Saturday, Dec. 16, 2023, at St. Mary Catholic Faith Community Church, 9520 W. Forest Home Ave., Hales Corners, following 10:00 am visitation at the church.

In recognition and gratitude of those whose blood donations kept Phyllis alive, and in lieu of flowers, please give life-saving blood. ❤