Philip Venzke grew up on a dairy farm near Colby, Wisconsin.  A student of creative writing, he graduated from the University of Wisconsin at Stevens Point under the nurturing guidance and mentorship of Richard Behm and Larry Watson.  Philip married his college sweetheart, Susan DeRouchey, in 1980.

Although accepted into MFA Programs in Creative Writing at the University of Oregon, the University of Montana, and the State University of New York (SUNY) at Binghamton, he choose instead to serve our county by enlisting with the U.S. Navy where he completed two Pacific tours of duty in the North Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf.  He received numerous decorations for his service to our country.

After the military, Venzke worked in the Information Technology (IT) world until his recent retirement.  He continues to travel extensively throughout the world.  He and his wife, Susan, reside in Wisconsin.