Philip J. Meuzelaar

Philip J. Meuzelaar, age 74, of Cedar Lake, IN, went home to his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 2, 2025. Beloved husband of the late Pamela Sue Meuzelaar, nee Shilling. Loving father of Christopher (Michelle) Meuzelaar, Jonathan (Jill) Meuzelaar, Rae Meuzelaar and Karen (Kevin) Krygsheld.  Proud grandfather of Luc, Bini, Calvin, Ally, Ben, Nate, Kate, Noah and Sam.  Dear brother of Nancy (Kent) Kuipers, David (Norma) Meuzelaar, Mary (Daryl) Pommer, Calvin (Mary) Meuzelaar, Gretchen (late Darrell) Kuipers, and Faith (Richard) Larson. Uncle of many nieces and nephews. Preceded in death by his parents Isaac and Gwendolyn Meuzelaar.

When Philip was 12 years old, the nurses at the rehab hospital he was in for hip replacement brought the kids on that unit in to see the adult rehab patients. They told the kids that when they went home, they could either ask everyone for help, complain, and have no friends, or they could have a good attitude, be independent, and have friends. Phil vividly remembered choosing friends. Anyone that knows him is not surprised by this.

He was known for his positive attitude, and people adored him everywhere he went, often to his embarrassment and the nausea of his family. He may have had 2 bad hips, chronic pain and a neurological disease, but he was determined to enjoy life. When he was able, he biked, fished, swam, baked bread no one would eat, cooked meals most were skeptical of, and told endless stories. In fact, he talked so much that he was known to say “I'm running out of air.”

Something he never ran out of was a love for life. He truly got every drop he could out of it.

Visitation Monday, July 7, 2025 from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 a.m. at Smits Funeral Home, 2121 Pleasant Springs Lane, Dyer, IN. Private interment Homewood Memorial Gardens – Homewood, IL. Memorial contributions may be given to Hospice of the Calumet Area ( www.hospicecalumet.org )

For further information, please contact 219-322-7300 or visit our online guestbook and obituary at www.SMITSFH.com