Murphy, Aloysius 'Al' Francis

Aloysius “Al” Francis Murphy, of Iowa City, died Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2009, at Mercy Iowa City after a short illness. Funeral mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church with the Very Rev. Rudolph Juarez officiating. Burial with military honors will be at St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be from 3 to 6 p.m. Sunday at Lensing Funeral and Cremation Service, Iowa City, and after 9 a.m. Monday at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Patrick's Catholic Church.

Al was born Feb. 15, 1920, in Larchwood, Iowa, the son of Aloysius Joseph Murphy and Marie Gallagher Murphy. He was raised in Cosgrove and graduated from high school there in 1938. Al married Audrey Rahfeldt in Spirit Lake, Iowa, shortly before joining the army in 1942. Al served his country honorably both in North Africa and Italy. He was discharged with the rank of sergeant in 1945. He moved his family to Iowa City, and began working for the U.S. Postal Service as a letter carrier, a position he held until his retirement in 1983.

Al was a long time member of St. Patrick's Church, Knights of Columbus and the American Legion. After he retired, Al spent many happy hours with his morning coffee group and his Monday breakfast group. Al and his wife shared many interests and activities. They were avid Hawkeye fans. Together they volunteered at the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics for five years in their retirement. They both loved collecting, Al specializing in copper, postal paraphernalia and knives. They both loved to travel and spent many happy hours abroad, often with their children.

Al is survived by his wife, Audrey; his daughter, Judy of Palos Verdes, Calif.; his son, Alan (Aleta) of Iowa City; three grandchildren, Craig Martin, Sean (Tawyna) Martin and Kyle Martin; three great-grandchildren, Sophia, Ella and Lillian Martin; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Gary Lee Murphy; his brother, Leo Joseph Murphy; his son-in-law, Joseph Martin; and his grandson, Grant Martin.

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