Arthur Philbrook, 92, of Webster City, died Saturday, December 27, 2014, at the Van Diest Medical Center. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, December 30, 2014, at Asbury Methodist Church with Pastor Jeff Flagg, officiating. Following the services burial will be held at Graceland Cemetery with full military rites conducted by the American Legion Post #191. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday at the Foster Funeral and Cremation Center. Arthur Clarence Philbrook was born June 24, 1922, on a farm between Webster City and Kamrar, the son of Albert C. and Eunice Irene Cornett-Coslow Philbrook. He started school at the Woodleaf rural school and later attended White Fox rural school before moving to Bancroft with his parents, where he graduated in 1940. He then returned to Hamilton County with his family and enlisted in the Webster City, Iowa National Guard (Co. E. 133rd infantry, 34th Div.). On February 10th, 1941, that company was federalized into the U.S. Army and on February 28, 1941, they began their training at Camp Claiborne, LA. On New Year's Day, 1942 they were sent to Fort Dix N.J. after getting passports, physicals, etc. they were put on the ship USS Barnett and traveled to Northern Ireland (Belfast). Arthur served in the European Theatre in North Ireland, Scotland, England, North Africa and participated in some of the bitterest fighting in Italy through the Anzio Beachhead. He was taken prisoner by the German Forces near the Po River Valley (Bologna) on October 17, 1944. They were transported into Germany in box cars and interned at Stalag VIIA near Moosburg, Germany where he spent the last six and a half months of the war. He was liberated on April 29, 1945, and flown to Camp Lucky Strike in France and then traveled by ship back to New York. Arthur married Barbara Jean Crane on January 4, 1947, at the Little Brown Church in Nashua. He is survived by his wife Barbara, son Mark (Laura) Philbrook of Littleton, CO, daughters, Rebecca (Dennis) McCollough of Luzerne, IA and Virginia (Eric) Eade of Holmen, WI; sisters, Ellen Hall of Portola, CA, Kathleen Hemmen of Webster City; brother, Richard Philbrook of Wamego, KS; three grandsons; six granddaughters and three great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son, Steven; brothers, Roy Coslow, John Philbrook, Bob Philbrook and a brother in infancy, Cyrus William Philbrook. Arthur was a member of the Asbury United Methodist Church, the American Legion Post #191 where he was a 70 year member and Past Commander, the D.A.V. Chapter 29, the Mid Iowa Chapter of American Ex-Prisoners of War, where he was a Past Commander and the Co. E 133rd Infantry 34th Division Association. Arthur was employed with Maudlin Construction Company for 40 years and with Becker Construction for 18 years. He was very proud of the fact that he worked until age 80. He loved his big garden and was known for growing the best tomatoes. He especially enjoyed sharing the produce and handing out advice. Art loved God, his family, his country and never took his freedom for granted. Write a personal tribute for the Philbrook family at www.fosterfuneralandcremation.com.

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