Robert James Murphy, 92

Published 10:19 am Tuesday, October 1, 2013

Robert James Murphy, 92, of Austin, Minn., died Sunday, Sept. 29, 2013, at Gunderson Medical Center in LaCrosse, Wis.

Murphy

Murphy

He was born April 28, 1921, in rural Austin to Harold and Loretta Murphy. He grew up in Austin and graduated from Austin High School.

Bob married Eleanor Whitten in 1949, and had a son, Patrick Thomas Murphy. Eleanor died in November 1952.

Bob remarried to Carol Jane O’Rourke on April 16, 1966, at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel in Easton, Minn. They resided on the family farm in Austin.

Bob was a lifelong member of St. Augustine Catholic Church. He was an agent and board member for the Mower County Farmers Mutual Insurance Company in Austin. He was a lifelong farmer and enjoyed woodworking, attending flea markets and auctions, collecting coins and farm tools and spending time with his grandchildren. Bob enjoyed his Irish heritage and loved sharing it with others. In retirement, he looked forward to his daily coffee with friends.

Robert is survived by his wife, Carol, of Austin; his son, Patrick Murphy of Austin; his daughters, Mara Murphy of Austin, Colleen (Michael) Walz of Onalaska, Wis., and Brigid (Mark) Lund of Victoria, Minn.; six grandchildren: Gracie, Andrew, Gavin, Lydia, Jack and Emily; siblings: Leah Rusnak of Milwaukee, Wis., Rita Andersen of Albert Lea, Minn., and Suzanne Murphy of Minneapolis.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his brothers David, Luke and Gordon, and his sister Katherine.

A Funeral Mass will be celebrated 1 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, at St. Augustine Catholic Church. Friends may call from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the church on Friday. Interment will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Arrangements by Mayer Funeral Home.

Condolences may be left online at www.mayerfh.com