Murphy, Kenneth Joseph 1914 - 2015

MURPHY, GRAF, SLIFKA

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/14/2015 at 07:55:28

Kenneth died Thursday evening, August 6, 2015 at the age of 101.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, August 17, 2015, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home in Cresco, IA. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Cresco, IA. Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Sunday, August 16, 2015, at Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home, 404 North Elm Street, Cresco, IA 52136 with a scripture service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue an hour prior to the time of service Monday at the funeral home.

Kenneth Joseph Murphy was born in Howard County near Maple Leaf June 9, 1914, second son of Charles Joseph and Margaret (Graf) Murphy. When he was five the family moved to the farm south of Chester where Kenneth lived from 1919 to 2011. After graduation from Chester high school, Kenneth worked with his brother and parents on the farm. In 1937 he and a friend, Cy Maurer, decided to go west. Kenneth worked at the Hayden Ranch near Denver, Co, living in the bunkhouse and working as a horseman. He was considered a good horseman and trained the family colts. He returned to Iowa to marry Elsie Slifka of Cresco. They were married May 3, 1938. Kenneth’s parents moved into Chester and the newly married couple settled on the family farm. To this union three children were born, Sharon in 1940, Neil in 1942 and Mark in 1950.

Kenneth dearly loved farming and continued doing field work and maintaining his farm and machinery into his late 90s. He told his grandchildren, “I love the smell of fresh dirt in the spring.” He was an avid reader, especially westerns and wild-west history. Kenneth and Elsie were active in their church, St Stephens Parish, Chester.

May 22, 2011 a tornado destroyed Kenneth’s home and farmstead. He made his new home at Alert Manor apartments in Cresco. In 2013 he moved to Howard County Residential Care Facility, now Country Winds Manor.

He is survived by his children: Sharon of West Redding, CT, Neil of Clive and Mark (Ellen) of Cresco; three grandchildren: Carol of New York City, NY, Matthew (Katie) of Manhattan, NY, and Luke (Kate) of West Redding, CT.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Elsie, his parents, and brother, Dale.

Source: Hindt-Hudek Funeral Home database

Calvary Cresco Cemetery
 

Howard Obituaries maintained by Constance McDaniel Hall.
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