Philip Hackman Good (89) was called home on February 20th, 2024, after living an extraordinary life.
Phil is preceded in death by his brother, James Good, and his parents, Everett Oliver Good and Gladys Hackman Good. He is survived by the love of his life, Mary Heberer Good, his brother, David (Rosemary) Good, his four children: John Good, Jean (Reed) Brickell, Mary Anne (Bob) Dybdal, and Phil (Kaleigh) Good Jr., and his nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Phil is remembered as a family man above all else, a best friend, an incredible husband, a #1 father, and an adored Papa. He was kindhearted, gentle, and charismatic, while always showing strength and perseverance. A man full of love, spirit, and integrity, he was an inspiring leader and exceptional mentor to many.
Phil was born and raised in Kewanee, Illinois. After graduating from Kewanee High School in 1952, he headed west with his best friend and cousin, John Stewart, to attend Colorado College where he graduated with an economics degree. Phil was a cadet in the ROTC while at college and was later commissioned as an officer in the U.S. Army Reserve. Phil was a member of Company C since its establishment in Kewanee and was honorably discharged in 1964 with the rank of Captain and Commander of Company C, 338th Regiment, 85th Division, of U.S. Army Reserve.
Phil came from a long line of retailing and furniture selling tracing back to his grandfather, Elmer Samuel (“E.S.” Good), who opened Good’s in 1895. After college graduation, Phil joined his father Everett in the fledgling little furniture store. Phil’s challenge was to take the solid and well-respected furniture store that had been nurtured by E.S. and Everett to the next level. But to where exactly? Phil’s answers to this question played out over the next several decades and illustrated his entrepreneurial genius, true grit, and boundless passion for simply moving the ball forward.
With Phil's big dreams and persistence, he ran Good’s first TV commercial in the Quad Cities in 1971. Phil later retold the story saying his dad was livid as he ran it against his better judgment, reportedly spending a year's worth of the ad budget historically used for newspaper. To Phil's luck, it worked, and the company expanded. As other businesses left downtown Kewanee, Phil acquired buildings and lovingly renovated them back to their glory days with his own twists and created a furniture destination unlike any other. He thrived on change and disrupting the status quo and was most at home when the dust was flying from renovations. By the early 2000s, he had turned the store into a sprawling quarter million-foot furniture destination spanning three city blocks serving the entire Midwest.
Phil was always a staunch advocate for the rebirth of Kewanee. Instead of opening other locations at the recommendations of others in the industry, he invested everything he could in Kewanee, his home. His favorite philanthropic efforts were associated with Kewanee education. Phil was active in the community serving on many boards over his lifetime, including the Library Board, Illinois State Library Board, Kewanee Rotary, Kewanee Hospital Board, President of Kewanee Credit Bureau Board, Union Federal Savings and Loan Board, among others.
He was awarded Outstanding Citizen of the Year, Illinois Retailer of the Year, Retailer of the 21st Century, Honorary Boilermaker 2007, was given the Key to the City, and his high school football team was inducted into the Athletic Hall of Fame. He also received many industry awards and accolades for his innovation in the furniture industry.
In his early days, he was a scratch golfer, water skiing speed demon, and thrived skiing black diamonds in Colorado.He was well known for rooting for the underdog, no matter what the sport. And yes… his favorite underdogs were the Cubs and Bears.
For many years, Phil was an avid runner. No amount of rain, wind, brutal cold, or snow could stop his early morning routine of running 3-5 miles daily, before heading into the store.
He loved reading and sunny days and caught every sunset he possibly could. Travel and adventure were always a high priority and if the travel could include the ocean or mountains, all the better.
With the passage of Phil, we celebrate a life lived to the fullest. His love for life didn't come to an end with his passing. Instead, his life will live on through his loved ones who will continue to honor his true zest for living. Phil always lived life in the moment, he was truly one-of-a-kind.
We invite friends and family to toast Phil over a glass of good red in the company of their loved ones. If a good red isn’t calling, a memorial donation in honor of Phil can be made to the Kewanee Schools Foundation. A private ceremony with military honors will be held at a future date.
To send flowers to the family or plant a tree in memory of Phil H. Good, please visit our floral store.
