Philip John Moberly's Obituary
Philip John Moberly, 56, of Centerville, Iowa, passed away Thursday, February 16, 2017, at Mercy Medical Center in Des Moines.
Philip John Moberly, son of Dean and Elaine (DeArmond) Moberly, was born on July 28, 1960, in Webster City, Iowa. He was reared in that community and graduated from Webster City High School in 1978.
Phil attended Iowa Central Community College in Webster City and Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, obtaining a degree in criminal justice from the latter institution. Phil then attended Drake University Law School, from which he graduated with honors in 1987.
Upon obtaining his law degree, Phil moved to Anchorage, Alaska, where he engaged in the private practice of law for several years before joining the Alaska District Attorneys Office, where he served for many years as a member, and ultimately as head of the felony drug prosecution unit. In retirement, Phil returned to Iowa in 2015, where he built and lived in a home in the woods near Centerville.
Phil was an avid outdoorsman, camper, hunter and nature lover. He enjoyed many hunting and camping trips with his friends in Alaska, Colorado, and Iowa, as well as an African safari.
Phil also was an accomplished cook, a skill and interest he acquired under the tutelage of his mother and his maternal grandfather, the late Ralph DeArmond.
Phil also was a devoted Chicago Cubs fan, traveling frequently to Arizona to visit family and attend spring training games, and occasionally to Chicago to watch the team play in Wrigley Field. With the rest of Cub fandom, he reveled in the World Series triumph that ended the Cubs "curse" last fall.
Phil was preceded in death by his grandparents, his father, Dean Moberly, and a sister Michelle, who died in infancy. He is survived by his mother, Elaine Moberly, his brother and sister-in-law, Mike and Jeanine Moberly, niece and nephews Daniel (and wife Shannon and their son Desmond), Chelsea (and fianc Ryan Watson), and Thomas Moberly, all of Chandler, Arizona, and his ex-wife Laura Farley of Anchorage. He also is survived by his close friends and "adopted" family, Greg and Ann Milani and their sons Joe and Jim, of Moravia, Iowa, and many other dear friends made during the various stages of his life.
Per wishes, cremation has been accorded. A celebration of Life service and gathering of his family and friends will be held at 3PM on March 18th, 2017 at Phil's house. Memorial contributions may be made to The National Parks Foundation, https://www.nationalparks.org/, or to another charity of your choice, and may be mailed to Lange Funeral Home, 1900 South 18th Street, Centerville, Iowa 52544. Condolences may be shared online at www.langefh.com.
Graveside Service
2017-03-15 11:00:00
Highland Cemetery
off green street
Mystic
IA
52574
Celebration of Life
2017-03-18 15:00:00
Phil's House
1900 South 18th Street
Centerville
IA
52544
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