Obituary of Philip Lewis Steen

Steen, Philip Lewis age 81 of St. Paul, passed away early Saturday morning January 17, 2015. Philip was raised in Kalamazoo, MI, graduated from Western Michigan University and received his doctorate from the University of Michigan School of Music. While at Western Michigan he participated in ROTC, followed by service in the US Army and National Guard, achieving the rank of Captain. He was the Head of Music Education at Albion High School where he also coached football, basketball and golf. He worked as the Director of the Undergraduate Choral Music Program at the University of Minnesota and then Director of Choral Activities at Hamline University. He was a member of American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota and served a term as President. He worked at Breck School as a teacher and later as head of Transportation Services. Philip was a member of the American Guild of Organists and served as Director of Music to St. Paul's on-the-Hill Episcopal Church and Fridley United Methodist Church. Philip also belonged to the Masterworks Chorale and was a long time choir member at HAUMC. In his retirement he enjoyed working at Jerry's Hardware and serving as a Guardian Ad Litem for Hennepin County. Preceded in death by his daughter Marjorie Gardner, Philip is survived by his wife of 54 years Arvida Steen and daughters Carla Steen and Cindy Elizondo. He is also survived by his grandchildren Amy and Thomas Gardner, Jack and Grace Elizondo. A memorial service will be held at 7:00 pm Wednesday, January 21 at Hennepin Ave United Methodist Church in Minneapolis. Memorials preferred to the church, Hennepin Foundation for Children's Music Ministries.