John Murphy

JOHN MURPHY

Marion

John Joseph Murphy, 71, of Marion, passed away Oct. 17, 2015, of sudden cardiac arrest in Marion. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 23, at Murdoch Funeral Home & Cremation Service, Marion, with a Scripture service beginning at 4 p.m. Funeral Mass: 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 24, at St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th St., Marion. Graveside services: noon Saturday in Palo Cemetery, with military rites provided by Marion American Legion Post 298.

John was born Aug. 26, 1944, in Long Beach, Calif. 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. Soon after that John and his family moved to Dougherty, Iowa.

John was educated at St. Patrick's Catholic School in Dougherty, where he graduated in 1963. Shortly after graduation John joined the U.S. 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 Linn-Mar community schools, 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; siblings, Jim Murphy Jr. of Scottsdale, Ariz., Regina Murphy of Ankeny, Mary Catherine (Duane) Lyons of Belmond, Patrick (Lori) Murphy of Algona and 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; infant brother, Vincent Eugene Murphy; along with many aunts and uncles.

Those wishing to leave a memorial on John's behalf may send it to American Legion Post 298, 625 31st St., Marion, IA 52302 or St. Joseph's Catholic Church, 1790 14th St., Marion, IA 52302.

Please share a memory of John at www.murdoch funeralhome.com under obituaries.