Philip Miles Croel was born in Portland, MI to Russell Bruce Croel and Marian Maxine (Miles) Croel. When Phil was very young, he and his family moved to Ionia, MI, and he always considered Ionia his home town. As long as he could remember, Phil wanted to go to West Point, and on July 2, 1956 he joined the Class of 1960 as a cadet.
Phil was a devout Christian and lived a life of service to others. At West Point he was a Chapel Chimer at the Cadet Chapel, a Sunday School teacher for children who were dependents of cadre assigned to West Point, and a leading member of the Cadet Company K-1 Bible study group. He was also a dedicated member of the Officer’s Christian Union.
During plebe year and afterwards, Phil unselfishly spent many Saturday and Sunday afternoons providing entertainment to attendees in the Cadet Hostess Office. He was a gifted pianist and a master at leading singing groups.
In his First Class year, Phil was appointed to the job of Company Guidon Bearer. The Tactical Department could not have made a better choice. Phil was genuinely proud to be the bearer of the company colors, and he flawlessly performed the guidon manual for all parades.
The Class of ’60 in Company K-1 was for the most part a team, and Phil was a devoted team member. However, each one was also fiercely protective of his own individuality. Appropriately, the company motto was “Not Obnoxiously Eager.” Phil was one of the chief proponents of the motto and believed they should all strive to achieve noteworthy and professional results but do it without adherence to arbitrary rules established by others.
As one of many examples, during First Class year they converted a portion of a trunk room in the sinks into an unauthorized TV lounge. These were cadets who could easily have watched TV at the First Class Club, but if so, where would have been the thrill of beating the system and getting away with something? Alas, the unauthorized TV lounge was discovered by the Tactical Department, and the perpetrators took plenty of heat over the incident.
Phil was a huge contributor to developing the concepts of “Not Obnoxiously Eager” in Company K-1. He also used them to make his personal plan for conduct for the rest of his life.
One day, Phil’s roommates noticed another massive change in his attitude. A little time was required to reason why, but it turned out he was in love. It happened in Pittsburgh after the Army-Pitt football game. At a post-game function, Phil was playing piano, and the future love of his life, Susanne Quad, was leading the singing. Soon after, an A-Pin followed, and Phil became somewhat of a miser, denying himself and saving every possible dime for the inevitable engagement ring. Shortly after graduation, Phil and Sue were married in Ridgewood, NJ where Sue grew up.
Phil selected Field Artillery along with many others in K-1. He attended the basic officer courses at Fort Sill and Fort Bliss. His initial assignment was as a Field Artillery lieutenant in the Panama Canal Zone. Phil completed his military obligation on June 8, 1963 and resigned as a first lieutenant.
In civilian life, Phil put his God-given talents to work and rapidly became a hugely successful salesman with the TAB Products Company in the office furniture industry. In recognition of his success and especially his leadership ability, he was promoted to Branch Manager in 1976 and Vice President in 1978.
From 1985 through 1989, Phil was President and Chief Executive Officer of Wright Line, Inc., and in 1990, as a consultant, he formed his own company. Once he tried to explain his success to his former roommates. “It is easy,” he said; “You just have to be yourself.”
During the last years of his life, Phil was plagued by Parkinson’s disease, but in characteristic Croel fashion, he decided to fight back. He started a new company he named “Walking Tall” and made beautiful walking sticks. He had a constant smile on his face and was a great example to others. Finally, he donated his brain to the University of Florida Neuromedicine Human Brain Tissue Bank so that others might benefit from future research into the causes of neurodegenerative disease.
In summary, Phil was a friend, mentor, concert pianist, teacher, leader, daily inspiration and patriarch. He volunteered his talent and time to multiple community organizations. Phil loved his family and friends deeply, and he took an interest in everyone he met.
Phil is survived by a magnificent Croel family team: devoted wife and life partner, Susanne; four children: Lisa Susanne Croel, Heather Rosina (Croel) Clay, Russell Clint Croel and Michael Stephen Croel; siblings: Nicolene Dawson, Stephen Croel, Angela Tayfun and Danon Croel; and six grandchildren.