Philip Andrew Marty, 80, died peacefully at home in Ivins, Utah, on May 7, 2026, after a brief illness.
He was born in Springfield, Ohio, on Sept. 23, 1945, the youngest of three sons to Karl and Alma Marty.
After briefly attending Iowa State University, Phil spent his entire career in print journalism at daily newspapers throughout the Midwest. Starting in circulation at the Charles City (Iowa) Press in 1966, he worked in various writing and editorial positions, including managing editor of the Cherokee Daily Times from 1973 to 1983, and assistant travel editor of the Chicago Tribune from 1991 until his retirement in 2008. His career also included editorial positions at the Quad City Times, Cedar Rapids Gazette and the Gary (Indiana) Post-Tribune. In retirement, Phil continued as a freelance travel writer for numerous publications until his final byline in 2020. Throughout his career Phil won and contributed to many individual and group newspaper awards, notably including back-to-back Iowa Newspaper of the Year awards while managing editor of the Cherokee Daily Times.
Phil will be remembered by family, friends and colleagues for his natural curiosity and love of learning, his adventurous and creative spirit, and his sharp, quick wit. Travel was a personal and professional passion, meeting his partner Patti on an Australia/New Zealand cruise in 2013. He traveled to each of the seven continents and documented his travels through widely published articles and photographs. He was in constant pursuit of new interests and hobbies, from stained glass and wood block prints, to harmonica and banjo, to biking and hiking, and even ham radio in pre-internet times. Phil was an avid and accomplished photographer, starting in high school and continuing throughout his life, documenting his many travels, artistic landscapes and nature scenes, candid remembrances of family events, and whatever else caught his unique, creative eye. He most recently shared his writing and photography gifts with his great-grandchildren by creating books for them, “Maude’s Monkey” and “Zig’s Zebra.”
Phil is survived by his partner of 13 years, Patti Sherman of Ivins, Utah; his children: Angie Balius of Minneapolis, Minn.; Kirk Marty (Diane) of Leawood, Kan.; Eric Marty (Dina) of Greensboro, N.C.; their mother Anne Rutter of St. Paul, Minn.; step-daughter Heather Ziron (Brian) of Crown Point, Ind.; her mother Bonnie Marty of Chicago Ill.; nine grandchildren and step-grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; his brother Doug Marty (Betty) of Cody, Wyo.; his nephews; along with his faithful and loving golden retriever, Bindi, and his step-dog Ollie.
Donation suggestions in Phil's memory include the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and local golden retriever rescue organizations.
