Philip Lee VanSyckle, age 81, of Battle Creek, passed away on December 9, 2020. Philip was born on May 7, 1939, the son of Charles Hiram and Martha (Marty) Mae (Hartsock) VanSyckle. Philip served in the United States Air Force from 1961 until 1965. Phil retired as the Administrator, Real Estate and Mortgage Investments at State of Michigan Retirement Systems; Vice President at Kensington Advisors; and Managing Director at Kmf Senior Housing Investments. Phil earned his B.S. in Business/Real Estate at Western Michigan University in 1968. Phil was Initiated on February 12, 1997 into the Bedford, Michigan Masonic Lodge #207 F. & A. M., Bedford, Michigan, District 037. He was an avid boat racer in his younger years winning many awards. His other passion was hunting. Big game or small - moose, elk, bear, deer, ducks, pheasants. He loved the outdoors. Philip is survived by his uncle, Neil VanSyckle of Brevard, NC; his cousins, Nancy J. Daning of Elkhart, IN and Dana L. Marshall of Vicksburg; his partner, Eileen Friedman of Chicago, IL; so many wonderful friends; and his companion Pepper, his chocolate lab. He loved his labs and had many through the years. He didn’t “own” them – they were his family. Honoring Philip’s wishes, cremation has taken place, and interment will occur at Ft. Custer National Cemetery in the Spring. Arrangements by Girrbach Funeral Home. To leave an online condolence, visit www.girrbachfuneralhome.net.