- Born on: January 6, 1925
- Departed on: March 12, 2017
- Resided in: Portage, WI
Melbourne "Mel" Murphy
Melbourne 'Mel' Murphy, 92, recently of Portage, Wisconsin and formerly of Burlington, Iowa, passed away on Sunday, March 12, 2017, at Tivoli Assisted Living in Portage.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Mel's hometown of Burlington. Inurnment will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery also in Burlington.
Mel was born Jan. 6, 1925, in Denmark, Iowa, the son of Forrest E. Murphy and Esther Sloat Murphy. He married his high school sweetheart Mildred J. Murphy April 25, 1943. They had two sons, Craig Carter Murphy and Danny Gene Murphy, both preceding him in death.
Also preceeding in death, sisters Jean Elizabeth Cook and Marilyn Mahaffey.
Mel's long career with the Burlington Northern Railroad began on the loading docks with the Burlington Route in Iowa and Rock Island, IL. Mel and Mildred later moved to suburban Indianapolis with the Burlington Northern Railroad in freight sales. After retirement, they moved to Port Orange, Florida where they enjoyed the warmth, golf, and the beach. In the early 1990s they moved back to Burlington to care for their aging mothers.
Mel was raised on a farm in Denmark, Iowa, graduated from Burlington High School in 1943, and soon after joined the Army for four years. His passion was golf and taught his sons and grandsons the game. He was in his element when he was able to drive his cart to the local golf course in Burlington. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and Burlington Methodist Church. Mel and Mickey were active with BHS Class of 1943 and loved the Burlington Public Library. They also loved to travel and later Mel took up woodcarving.
Survivors include his grandchildren, Steve (Steffanie) Murphy, Portage, Wisconsin; Jeff (Michelle) Murphy, Cornelius, North Carolina; Jason (Peggiann) Burlington, Iowa; and Dani Lee Murphy, Kahoka, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Charley, Mary, and Martha Murphy; Catherine and Carter Murphy; Cameron and Addisyn Murphy; Keely Murphy; and Kaleb Kelley.
The family would like to thank the healthcare givers and staff at Tivoli Assisted Living and memorials may be made to Tivoli or the Burlington Public Library.
A memorial service will be held at a later date in Mel's hometown of Burlington. Inurnment will be at Aspen Grove Cemetery also in Burlington.
Mel was born Jan. 6, 1925, in Denmark, Iowa, the son of Forrest E. Murphy and Esther Sloat Murphy. He married his high school sweetheart Mildred J. Murphy April 25, 1943. They had two sons, Craig Carter Murphy and Danny Gene Murphy, both preceding him in death.
Also preceeding in death, sisters Jean Elizabeth Cook and Marilyn Mahaffey.
Mel's long career with the Burlington Northern Railroad began on the loading docks with the Burlington Route in Iowa and Rock Island, IL. Mel and Mildred later moved to suburban Indianapolis with the Burlington Northern Railroad in freight sales. After retirement, they moved to Port Orange, Florida where they enjoyed the warmth, golf, and the beach. In the early 1990s they moved back to Burlington to care for their aging mothers.
Mel was raised on a farm in Denmark, Iowa, graduated from Burlington High School in 1943, and soon after joined the Army for four years. His passion was golf and taught his sons and grandsons the game. He was in his element when he was able to drive his cart to the local golf course in Burlington. He was a member of the Moose Lodge and Burlington Methodist Church. Mel and Mickey were active with BHS Class of 1943 and loved the Burlington Public Library. They also loved to travel and later Mel took up woodcarving.
Survivors include his grandchildren, Steve (Steffanie) Murphy, Portage, Wisconsin; Jeff (Michelle) Murphy, Cornelius, North Carolina; Jason (Peggiann) Burlington, Iowa; and Dani Lee Murphy, Kahoka, Missouri; great-grandchildren, Charley, Mary, and Martha Murphy; Catherine and Carter Murphy; Cameron and Addisyn Murphy; Keely Murphy; and Kaleb Kelley.
The family would like to thank the healthcare givers and staff at Tivoli Assisted Living and memorials may be made to Tivoli or the Burlington Public Library.
