EDWARD J. MURPHY

Edward J. Murphy, 85, of Rulo, died Thursday, Sept. 11, 2014 at Falls City. He was born June 4, 1929 at St. Joseph, MO, to the late Lawrence and Ruth (Kanaly) Murphy.

Ed enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and was honorably discharged. On June 15, 1963 he married Marilyn Schmutzer at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Rulo.

Ed graduated from FC Sacred Heart High School in 1947. After graduation he farmed until entering the Air Force in 1951. After his discharge he worked at the Rulo Elevator. Ed owned Murphy’s Grocery Store in Rulo for 30 years. After many years as a substitute rural mail carrier in the Rulo, White Cloud, Falls City and Shubert areas, he was appointed a regular mail route in 1982 and retired in 1991.

Ed served seven years on the Sacred Heart School Board. Ed was an avid “Irish” sports fan for more than 50 years. He volunteered at Sacred Heart football and basketball games, both on the chain gang and running the clock. Since 1967 he has recorded the weather temperature for the National Weather Service, including reading the river gauges for the Corp of Engineers. For many years he volunteered for KQTV in St. Joseph with daily temperature readings for Rulo.

He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Rulo, active member of the Knights of Columbus, serving as District Deputy for five councils in southeast Nebraska in the 1990’s. He loved watching football, basketball and baseball, especially Notre Dame, the KC Royals and Nebraska, and spent many hours gardening and woodworking.

Survivors include his wife, Marilyn, of Rulo; daughter, Ruth Ann (Steve) Huppert, of Falls City; grandchildren: David Huppert, of Lincoln, Drew Huppert, of Beatrice, and Derek and Madison Huppert, both of Falls City.

Ed was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Loretta Murphy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2014 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Rulo, with Fr. David Oldham officiating. Interment will be in Falls City Catholic Cemetery. Military graveside honors by Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard.

A Rosary will be held at 7 p.m. Monday at Dorr & Clark Funeral Home, Falls City. The family will receive friends following the Rosary at the funeral home.