SILKER, Phillip W.

SILKER, Phillip W. (Dubuque, IA, Aug. 20, 1948--Epworth, IA, Mar. 4, 2009). Mayor. Silker will be remembered for his many years of community service. He served as the mayor of Epworth from 1994 until his death and was a member of the city council from 1990 to 1994. He was a driving force behind the construction of the city's one-story, $1.8 million city hall and fire station which was substantially completed in January 2009. He served as vice-president of the Epworth Community Historical Society. For thirty-four years he was a volunteer of the Epworth Fire Department and retired as captain in 1981. Silker was a member of the Society of 40 Men/8 Horses Voiture 632 of Dubuque County for which he served as Chef-De-Gare (Commander). He was the recipient of the 2008 Western Dubuque Alumni of Distinction Award.

Silker served with the Iowa National Guard Company A, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry. For thirty-seven of his thirty-nine years in the Guard, Silker was the first sergeant responsible for troop welfare. He served in Kuwait in 2000 and was assigned in 2003 to the Sinai Peninsula as part of a multinational peacekeeping force. He also served with the Governor's Grey marching unit. In Epworth he was a partner in the family-owned business, Silker's General Merchandise.