John J ‘Irish’ Murphy, 05 Jul 1951 – 24 Jul 2010

MURPHY, WELDON, WALTER, BEEKEN, LAMM, VON AHSEN, LEWIS

Posted By: Sandy Ficken-whc (email)
Date: 8/17/2010 at 10:20:47

John J ‘Irish’ Murphy, 05 Jul 1951 – 24 Jul 2010 59 yrs

Celebration of life services for John J. “Irish” Murphy, 59, Greeley, Colo., formerly of Parnell, were held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, July 28, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church, Greeley. He died following a brief illness Saturday, July 24, 2010, at Poudre Valley Hospital, Fort Collins, Colo.

Memorials may be made to the John Murphy Memorial Fund or Friends of Baseball, in care of Adamson Funeral and Cremation Services, 2000 47th Ave., Greeley, Colo. 80634. Online condolences may be left at www.adamsonchapels.com.

John J. Murphy was born July 5, 1951, in Parnell, the son of Joseph and Rita (Weldon) Murphy. He grew up in Parnell and attended school in Williamsburg. He attended Central College, Pella, where he played center on the football team and graduated in 1973. He married Sue Walter May 8, 1999, in Greeley.

He was an avid sports fan, enjoying everything from golf to rugby. He was a Rockies, Cincinnati Reds and Miami Dolphins fan. When he first moved to Greeley, he played catcher for The Bistro and other local leagues. His love of baseball carried over to volunteer service for the “Friends of Baseball.”

Murphy is survived by his wife; one daughter, Codie Beeken, Denver, Colo.; his mother, Rita Murphy, Parnell; his best friend, “Daddy” Glen Walter; sisters and their husbands, Jean and Dennis Lamm, Wellington, Colo.; Janet Murphy, Naples, Fla., and Marilyn and Tom Von Ahsen, St. Louis, Mo; one sister-in-law and her husband, Janet and Jack Lewis; two granddaughters, nieces, nephews and countless friends.

He was preceded in death by his father.

The Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 05 Aug 2010, pg 9, col 5&6