Esther Murphy Burns

ESTHER BURNS Iowa City Esther M. Murphy Burns, 86, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully on May 15, 2015, at Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center in West Branch. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 20, at St. Bernadette's Catholic Church in West Branch with Father Greg Steckel officiating. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, where a rosary will be recited at 4:30 p.m. and a parish vigil will begin at 7 p.m. Visitation will also be held at the church on Wednesday from 9 a.m. until service time. Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City and will be followed by a luncheon at St. Bernadette's. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to Crestview Nursing and Rehab Center or to Iowa City Hospice. Esther Marie was born on Jan. 1, 1929, in Cedar County, Iowa, the daughter of Emery and Etta Coulter Hemingway. She graduated from Iowa City High School in 1947 and attended the University of Iowa. She married Robert Murphy on Sept. 5, 1949, in Iowa City. Robert died in 1984. Esther later married Merle Burns on Nov. 9, 1985, in Mission, Texas, who passed away in 1997. She was a longtime member of St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Do-Si-Do Square Dance Club and the North Scott Social Circle. She enjoyed traveling, square dancing, playing cards with family and friends and was an avid Green Bay Packers fan, win or lose. Esther's family, grandchildren and great-grandchildren were the center of her life. She will be dearly missed. Survivors include her children, Dennis Murphy (Gail), Mary Means (Scott), Donald Murphy (Kris), Ronald Murphy (Jenny), Terri Shay (Dan), Michael Murphy (Brenda) and Patti Seydel (Phil); stepchildren, Ronald Burns, Allan Burns and Darlene Pripilli (Richard): 17 grandchildren: 22 great-grandchildren (soon to be 23); numerous step-grandchildren: a sister, Glee Leet; and brothers, Elmer Hemingway and Keith Hemingway. Esther was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Robert Murphy; husband, Merle Burns; stepdaughter, Marlys Nelson; and a longtime friend, Johnnie Shaffer. The family would like to extend their sincere appreciation to the staff at Crestview for the wonderful and compassionate care shown to Esther during her final months spent there. Online condolences may be directed to www.lensingfuneral.com.