Dr. Philip Lewis "Phil" Linnemann
Dec 25, 1940 - Mar 27, 2013
Posted by Janet Laubhan Flickinger

http://www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com/

Dr. Philip Lewis Linnemann, Lexington, OK, 72, departed this life on Wednesday, March 27, 2013 at the HealthPlex, Norman, OK, following a brief illness.

Funeral services will begin at 2 p.m., Monday, April 1st, 2013 at the McFarlin Memorial United Methodist Church, 419 South University Boulevard in Norman with Father Alan Sutherland officiating.

The Linnemann family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00p.m. on Sunday, March 31, 2013 at the Havenbrook Funeral Home, 3401 Havenbrook Street in Norman.

Dr. Linnemann was born December 25th, 1940 in Manistee, MI. His parents Ralph August and Esther Corneil “Connie” Linnemann and new family lived in St. Louis, MO, where Phil developed his love of Cardinal baseball, attending many games as a small child and watching some of the great names of baseball play. In the late 1940’s the family moved to Oklahoma City, OK where Phil, Ross and Gail attended school.

He graduated from John Marshall High School, Oklahoma City, OK in 1958. Shortly after graduation he entered the Air Force serving in Japan and Morocco. Following his military service he completed a year of lab technology coursework at Baptist Memorial Hospital (now Integris), while studying at the University of Oklahoma, Norman. He graduated with a B.S. in Medical Technology, June 4th, 1967, from OU. Phil continued his studies at Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK, where he earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine in 1972.

Dr. Linnemann began his professional career in Norman at Westwood Veterinary Hospital working with Dr. Don Biles and Dr. David Marx. After several years at Westwood he opened his own practice, Park Lane Veterinary Hospital that still serves Norman and surrounding communities. Among his many awards he was the recipient of the Pittman-Moore Award for research in porphyria and the Small Animal Clinician Award from Upjohn. But the award he was most proud of was the“Best Veterinarian” in the Norman Transcript’s Reader’s Choice Awards voted on by the citizens of Norman. He won this award many times over his career and was always extremely disappointed if a year went by that he didn’t win. His professional memberships included the Oklahoma and American Veterinarian Associations and Phi Zeta Veterinary Honor Fraternity.

In November 1987, Dr. Linnemann was one of several founding members of the Sooner Rotary club, where he has remained an active and involved member for 26 years. Surviving founders include: Greg Buwick, Bob Usry, Keith Busking, Pete Dowling, Doug Lyle, Lynne Miller, Grover Ozmun and Kevin Murphree. He was also an active member of the Norman Business Association.

One of Phil’s great joys was his radio show that aired each Sunday on KREF 1400 in Norman. The call in show “Pet Talk”, which aired for over 12 years, allowed listeners to gain information on topics relating to their animals.

As a child, Phil’s family attended Christ the King Catholic Church in Oklahoma City and later he was active at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Norman. In April 1998, Phil and Michelle were confirmed in the Episcopal Church at St Paul’s Cathedral in Oklahoma City. Phil was active in the St Stephen’s Ministry serving members who were ill. In 2010, the Linnemann family placed membership at St Michael’s Episcopal Church in Norman, after moving their residence from Oklahoma City to Norman.

Phil loved all types of music, especially classical; he enjoyed the ballet and one of his proudest moments was when his daughter, Mikayla danced in the OU production of the Nutcracker when she was eight and twelve years old. He loved playing classical guitar, reading and photography. He was honored to be asked to photograph the Norman 89er parade every year and always used that occasion as an excuse to buy a new camera or lens. He loved OU football and was a season ticket holder for 50 years. But his great passion was Cardinal baseball and every summer looked forward to a trip to St. Louis to watch a game.

He had two children with his first wife, Margaret Ann Rayburn Linnemann: Jay Philip Linnemann and Amy Dawn Linnemann Peters. He married his current wife, the former Michelle Denise Shrewsbury on August 30, 1995. He honored her son, Rhett Michael Jones, and grandson, Seth Daniel Sehon, as his own family. Phil and Michelle rejoiced at the birth of their child together, Mikayla Corneil Linnemann.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his son, Jay in 2009.

Phil is survived by his wife, Michelle, of the home, his brother, Ross Anthony Linnemann and wife, Pam, of Piedmont, OK, his sister, Gail Linnemann Payne and husband Charlie, of Lawrenceville, GA, his brother, Homer Ramsdell and wife Terri of Manistee, MI and his sister Lucie Ramsdell of Saline, MI; his children, Mikayla Linnemann of Lexington, Amy Linnemann Peters, of Norman, Rhett Jones of Norman; grandsons Seth Sehon of Wylie, TX and Jacob Peters of Norman, mother-in-law, Thiel Kaye Maddon Shrewsbury, of Norman, brother-in-law, Michael Kirkpatrick Shrewsbury of Norman, and numerous nieces and nephews.

Dr. Phil or Uncle Phil as he was known (depending on if you were two or four legged) will be sorely missed by his beloved friends and their families, and the devoted employees at Park Lane Veterinary Hospital in Norman. Words cannot adequately express how much he meant to those who he served in his practice.

Memorial donations may be made in memory of Dr. Philip L. Linnemann to the Memorial Scholarship Fund c/o Bill Osborne, Sooner Rotary Club, 101 E. Gray, Suite A., Norman, OK 73069.

Burial will conclude in Sunset Memorial Park Cemetery in Norman. Arrangements for Phil and his family were placed in the care of the Vice family at the Havenbrook Funeral Home of Norman.

Online condolences may be shared at www.havenbrookfuneralhome.com

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