Murra, Willis (1928-2013)
MURRA, WINTER, UBBEN, WETHERELL, OACHS, LOVIK, SWALVE, STROMER, MUELLER
Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 10/30/2013 at 13:48:01
Willis Murra
(November 25, 1928 - September 27, 2013)Willis Murra, age 84, of Buffalo Center, passed away on Friday, September 27, 2013, at the Timely Mission Nursing Home.
Willis was born on November 25, 1928, on a farm four miles south and one mile west of the Mill Road in Buffalo Center, Iowa, to John, Sr., and Kate (Winter) Murra.
Willis grew up on a farm northwest of Thompson, Iowa, and attended King #3 country school until the eighth grade. Around 1943, his family moved to the family farm two miles south and two miles west of the Mill Road in Buffalo Center, Iowa. Willis worked on the family farm and often had to spend one day a week working for his uncle, Jim Murra, and one day a week for his other uncle, Pete Murra. At age twenty, Willis started working for Jensvold’s, setting up new machinery, a position he held until he was drafted into the Army on November 2, 1950. He was stationed at North Camp Polk, Louisiana. Most of his Army days, however, he spent in France driving truck, hauling supplies all around Europe. After his honorable discharge on November 2, 1952, he went back to work at Jensvold’s.
On March 12, 1954, Willis married Marie Ubben at the Ramsey Reformed Church of rural Titonka, Iowa. They made their home in Buffalo Center until he started farming in 1957. Willis spent most of his farming years on what was referred to as the Dohlman farm, four miles north of Buffalo Center on the Mill Road.
In 1978, Willis and Marie moved to a house in Buffalo Center. He continued working as a truck driver while buying and selling used machinery. He traveled to farm sales all around the area, becoming well known in the farming community. Farmers would call him from Wisconsin, Minnesota, Missouri, and Iowa, inquiring about the machinery he had for sale or the machinery they wanted him to buy for them. His children were often amazed by the number of phone calls he received each day from farmers throughout the Midwest.
Willis loved farming including raising hogs and cattle, playing cards, spending time with his kids and grandkids, and driving slowly to Thompson for coffee with friends. Some conjectured that he drove at such a slow pace so that he could watch the corn grow. He would also pull into Casey’s and wait for someone to come “take his order.” Moreover, he would often park his car by the post office and shake his keys to ask the next person going into the post office to get his mail for him.
A member of the First Reformed Church, Willis served as a deacon and an elder.
Willis is survived by his four children: Mark Murra, of Rake, Iowa, Gary Murra, of Overland Park, Kansas, Sheila (Joe) Wetherell, of Hudson, Iowa, and Jean Oachs, of Mankato, Minnesota; his four grandchildren: Jason (Amber) Murra, April Oachs, and Jessica and Joseph Wetherell; one great grandchild, Jacob Lemke; three sisters: Lydia Lovik, of Forest City, Iowa, Clara Swalve, of Princeton, Illinois, and Mildred (Byron) Stromer, of Garner, Iowa; one brother, Cecil (Virgie Ann) Murra, of Albert Lea, Minnesota; four sisters-in-law: Mary Murra, of Lake Mills, Iowa, Arline Murra and Bernice Murra, of Blue Earth, Minnesota, and Ruth Murra, of Buffalo Center, Iowa; and his aunt, Gela Murra, of Davenport, Iowa; as well as by many nephews, nieces, and coffee buddies in Thompson, Iowa.
Willis was preceded in death by his wife, Marie; his parents, John and Kate Murra; four brothers: John, Jr., Harold, Raymond, and Donald Murra; a half-sister, Annie Mueller; and a nephew, Doug Stromer; as well as by many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
A memorial service will be held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, October 5, 2013, at the First Reformed Church in Buffalo Center with Pastor Bill Peake officiating. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 PM on Friday, October 4, 2013, also at the church. Inurnment will take place at Olena Mound Cemetery in Buffalo Center.
Copyright © 2013, Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Winter Funeral Home and Cremation Service
Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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