Irene E. Murphy

MURPHY, HUFF, SHARRAR, FERN, REMMERS, FOWLER, HINES

Posted By: Tara (email)
Date: 4/16/2012 at 10:52:28

Irene E. Murphy, 92, longtime resident of Iowa City, died Thursday, April 12th at Hawthorne Inn in Coralville.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday at 10:00 am at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. Reverend John Spiegel will officiate. Visitation will be held Sunday from 3:00 to 6:00 pm at Lensing’s Oak Hill in Coralville, 210 Holiday Road. Burial will be in St. Joseph Cemetery in Iowa City. Instead of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorials be directed to The Regina Foundation.

Irene was born October 24, 1919 in Muscatine, Iowa, the daughter of Perry F. and Clara (Sharrar) Huff.

Growing up in Muscatine, Irene graduated from St. Mary’s High School in Muscatine. In 1936, she won a national journalism contest conducted by Quill and Scroll. Irene married Bernard Murphy August 3, 1946 in Muscatine. The couple raised their family and divorced in 1977. She, Irene, worked as a secretary at Oakdale Hospital prior to working at the University of Iowa and also for Goodwill Industries. She retired in 1974.

A devoted lifelong Catholic, Irene was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Iowa City. She was awarded the Goodwill Industries Worker of the Year Award in 1970. Irene was a member of Altar & Rosary Society and was very active in writing editorials on politics, mental health care and those with disabilities. She enjoyed genealogy and was a member of the Johnson County Genealogical Society – for which she also served as secretary.

Irene is survived by her children, Kenneth Murphy of Mediapolis, Steven Murphy (Joyce Fern) of Iowa City, Karen Remmers (Joseph) of Kansas City, Missouri, Joyce Murphy of Iowa City, Joseph Murphy (Brenda) of Muscatine, George Murphy (Kathy) of Iowa City, Helen Murphy of Indianapolis, Indiana, Edward Murphy (Deb) of Marion, Dennis Murphy (Marlys) of Anamosa and Sarah Fowler (Steve) of Cedar Rapids;
grandchildren, Jason (Heather), Jeff (Becky), Justin, Jessica, Tim (Jenna), Adam, Lynda, Kimberly, Bridget, Colleen and Douglas; one sister MaryAnn Hines(Carl) of Muscatine; great-grandchildren, Autumn, Natalie, David, Ethan, Sadie and Mary;
many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, her former husband, six sisters, three brothers and a granddaughter, Heather Murphy.