John Joseph Murphy
August 26, 1944 — October 17, 2015
John Joseph Murphy, 71, of Marion, passed away on October 17, 2015, of a sudden cardiac arrest in Marion, Iowa.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015, at the Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion, Iowa with a scripture service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Mass: 9 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2015, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th Street, Marion, Iowa. Graveside Services: 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the Palo Cemetery with military rites provided by Marion American Legion Post 298.
John was born on August 26, 1944, in Long Beach, California. As a young boy, John moved from Long Beach with his parents, Jim and Katherine Murphy, and his younger brother Jim to Cartersville, Iowa. He attended his early grades in a one room school house north of Cartersville. After the one room school house closed John attended elementary school in Rockwell, Iowa. Soon after that John and his family moved to Dougherty, Iowa.
John was educated at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Dougherty, Iowa, where he graduated in 1963. Shortly after graduation John joined the US Navy. He was stationed on the USS Constellation Aircraft Carrier in the Western Pacific, Yankee Station, during the Vietnam War.
After John's military service ended, he worked for Naval shipyards in Bremerton and retired after 30 years in 2000. John was a lifelong active member of the American Legion.
John moved back to the Marion area after his retirement to be closer to family. John enjoyed family get-togethers and home cooking.
John will be missed by his son, family, golf friends, all the great people at the American Legion in Marion and the Linn-Mar Community School where he was a bus driver for many years. He enjoyed the kids and getting them home safely.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Randy Drafahl of Amana, Iowa; siblings, Jim Murphy, Jr. of Scottsdale, Arizona, Regina Murphy of Ankeny, Mary Catherine (Duane) Lyons of Belmond, Patrick (Lori) Murphy of Algona, Carolyn Engelhardt of Ankeny and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Rose Murphy and Thomas and Esther Fitzpatrick; parents, Jim and Katherine Murphy; and infant brother, Vincent Eugene Murphy; along with many aunts and uncles.
Those wishing to leave a memorial on John's behalf can be sent to the American Legion Post 298, 625 31 St., Marion, IA 52302 or St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th St., Marion, IA 52302.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, October 23, 2015, at the Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion, Iowa with a scripture service beginning at 4:00 p.m. Funeral Mass: 9 a.m. Saturday, October 24, 2015, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th Street, Marion, Iowa. Graveside Services: 12:00 p.m. Saturday at the Palo Cemetery with military rites provided by Marion American Legion Post 298.
John was born on August 26, 1944, in Long Beach, California. As a young boy, John moved from Long Beach with his parents, Jim and Katherine Murphy, and his younger brother Jim to Cartersville, Iowa. He attended his early grades in a one room school house north of Cartersville. After the one room school house closed John attended elementary school in Rockwell, Iowa. Soon after that John and his family moved to Dougherty, Iowa.
John was educated at St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Dougherty, Iowa, where he graduated in 1963. Shortly after graduation John joined the US Navy. He was stationed on the USS Constellation Aircraft Carrier in the Western Pacific, Yankee Station, during the Vietnam War.
After John's military service ended, he worked for Naval shipyards in Bremerton and retired after 30 years in 2000. John was a lifelong active member of the American Legion.
John moved back to the Marion area after his retirement to be closer to family. John enjoyed family get-togethers and home cooking.
John will be missed by his son, family, golf friends, all the great people at the American Legion in Marion and the Linn-Mar Community School where he was a bus driver for many years. He enjoyed the kids and getting them home safely.
Those left to cherish his memory are his son, Randy Drafahl of Amana, Iowa; siblings, Jim Murphy, Jr. of Scottsdale, Arizona, Regina Murphy of Ankeny, Mary Catherine (Duane) Lyons of Belmond, Patrick (Lori) Murphy of Algona, Carolyn Engelhardt of Ankeny and many nieces and nephews.
John was preceded in death by his grandparents, John and Rose Murphy and Thomas and Esther Fitzpatrick; parents, Jim and Katherine Murphy; and infant brother, Vincent Eugene Murphy; along with many aunts and uncles.
Those wishing to leave a memorial on John's behalf can be sent to the American Legion Post 298, 625 31 St., Marion, IA 52302 or St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th St., Marion, IA 52302.
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