JUSTIN J. MURPHY

MCCARTHY, MURPHY, HALER, MAY, OLAUGHLIN

Posted By: Mary Durr (email)
Date: 2/10/2003 at 11:50:02

JUSTIN J. MURPHY

Telegraph Herald - Sunday, February 2, 2003

Justin J. Murphy, 82, of Las Vegas, formerly of Dubuque, died Sunday, Jan. 12, 2003, at Sunrise Hospital, Las Vegas.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Patrick's Catholic Church, Dubuque. Burial of the cremated remains will be in Mount Calvary Cemetery, Dubuque, where military rites will be accorded by the Tri-State Vietnam Veterans and the Dubuque Marine Corps League. Friends may call after 9:30 a.m. Monday at the church. The Behr Funeral Home, 1491 Main St., Dubuque, is in charge of arrangements.

He was born on Aug. 12, 1920, in Shullsburg, Wis., son of John and Bernadette (McCarthy) Murphy. He married Catherine M. Haler on July 3, 1948, in Dubuque; she preceded him in death on May 23, 1991.

He served with the Marine Corps during World War II in Korea.

After leaving Dubuque in 1963, he held several positions in the gaming industry. He was shiftboss at the Golden Nugget, Aladdin, Union Plaza and Silverbird Hotels. From 1967 to 1969, he was general manager of the Holiday Hotel, Reno, Nev., and was personally responsible for organizing the first ever World Series of Poker, which still takes place today at The Horseshoe in Las Vegas.

Surviving are a son, Terry J. (Jacqueline) Murphy, of Las Vegas; a granddaughter, Katherine Murphy, of San Diego; a sister, Donna May, of Bellevue, Iowa; two brothers, Larry Murphy, of Mesa, Ariz., and Robert Murphy, of Dubuque; a sister-in-law, Marian Murphy, of Dubuque; and a brother-in-law, James O'Laughlin, of Phoenix, Ariz.

He also was preceded in death by two sisters, Rosemary Murphy, in infancy, and Theora O'Laughlin; and by five brothers, James, in infancy, and Frank, Daniel, Orville and Ronald Murphy.

Memorials may be given to St. Patrick's Parish, 1425 Iowa St., Dubuque, Iowa 52001.