DIXON – Philip A. Jorgensen, 83, of Dixon, passed away Friday, Feb. 10, 2017, at his home. He was a clinical social worker for Dixon Correctional Center prior to his retirement.

Mr. Jorgensen was born Jan. 12, 1934, in Hampton, Iowa, the son of Rev. Harold C. and Emma Marie (Petersen) Jorgensen. Phil married Shirley E. (Steen) Jorgensen on Jan. 22, 1955, having celebrated 62 years of marriage. He was an active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, serving a term as council president, and the past 10 years was co-leader of the Sunday morning Adult Forum class.

Philip graduated high school in Blair, Nebraska. Before graduating in 1958 from Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, he served in the Army for 4 years. In 1961, he obtained a Master of Social Worker degree from Washington University in St. Louis, majoring in psychiatric social work. In March 1966, he moved to the Sauk Valley area to expand the Lee County Mental Health clinic into the four-county Sinnissippi Mental Health Center. He was the first executive director of Sinnissippi, which had its beginnings on July 1, 1966. He was proud of being a pioneer in establishing a multi-county, rural mental health clinic at a time when psychiatry and mental health services were available only in big cities. He provided child guidance diagnostic and treatment services in Rockford in the early 1960s, and during his career was an administrator, program director, supervisor, and clinician.

Phil enjoyed a 50-year career in the mental health field, starting with child guidance work in Rockford in 1961. He retired at age 76 in March 2010, his last employment in the therapeutic services department at Dixon Correctional Center, a clinical social work position he held for 13 years. Other professional positions included private practice and clinical director of Nachusa Lutheran Home. During his private practice years, he also owned two fast food restaurants together with his wife in Oregon, selling them to purchase the 1890 Club (currently LaVigna). They sold the restaurant in 1988. After his retirement, he served 3 years as a board member of the Volunteer Care Committee.

Phil was an avid fisherman. He also created beautiful stained glass, loved entertaining and cooking, telling stories and jokes, and watching football (Go Big Red). He was a generous man who enjoyed giving to others.

Phil was devoted to his loving wife, his children and his grandchildren, and had a life-long fascination with personality. He loved his career in treating emotional and mental problems. He had a strong belief in being his brother’s keeper and loved to say, “I have never met a person who has not enriched my life.”

He is survived by his wife, Shirley Jorgensen of Dixon; one daughter, Karen (Jonathan) Craig of Katy, Texas; one son, David (Sarah) Jorgensen of Austin, Texas; three granddaughters, Carly Jorgensen, Courtney Craig, and Kaitlin Craig; one grandson, Evan Jorgensen; one brother, Mark Jorgensen; one sister, Lois Galloway; and one sister-in-law, Julia Jorgensen-Shelby.

He was preceded in death by his parents and four brothers.

Cremation rites have been accorded. Memorial visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Preston-Schilling Funeral Home in Dixon. A celebration of life will be at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dixon, with the Rev. David Schweppe officiating.

Memorial donations may be made to Immanuel Lutheran Church or Youth Programming.

Visit prestonschilling.com to send condolences.