William Murphy

William “Bill” T. Murphy

William “Bill” Thomas Murphy, the son of Cecil and Kathryn Murphy, was born July 2, 1936, in Atlantic, Iowa, and passed away October 20th, 2012 at Southern Hills Specialty Care Facility in Osceola at the age of 76.
A life long resident of Cass County, Bill attended and graduated from the Wiota High School with the class of 1954. In 1958 he was drafted into the army and proudly served his country until 1960.
On August 12th, 1961, Bill married his wife of 51 years, Judy Kessler. It was then they began their life together on a farm north of Wiota. Farming was Bill’s passion. He raised corn, soybeans and cattle, but his pride and joy came with raising and selling purebred spotted hogs.
The hog business was a big part of Bill’s life, as he often showed them at State Fairs. Bill also showed that enthusiasm for the livestock with his four children through 4-H. Another very important part of Bill’s life was his family. His children and grandchildren meant the world to him and he looked forward to the many family gatherings they all shared together. Bill always felt they should be there to support one another, so if you saw one member of the family you usually saw them all.
He was a member of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church in Anita, and in the early years served on the Farm Bureau board and helped with 4-H and the county fair.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents, Cecil and Kathryn Murphy, his father-in-law Wayne Kessler, and a grandson in infancy, Daniel Murphy.
Bill is survived by his wife Judy; his children, Paulette (John) Aggen of Anita, Dianne (Jim) Wessling of Anita, Doug (Kristi) Murphy of Anita, and Karla (Tim) Eilts of Wiota; his grandchildren Heather (Adam) Wanie of Lomira, WI., Matthew Aggen of Anita, Haley and Ethan Wessling of Anita, Mariah Murphy of Anita, Nicole and Logan Eilts of Wiota; and one great-grandson Henry Wanie of Lomira, WI. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Evelyn Kessler of Wiota, his brothers Jim Murphy of Griswold, Bob (Kay) Murphy of Winterset, Larry (Deb) Murphy of Council Bluffs, a brother-in-law Wayne (Donnis) Kessler Jr. of Atlantic; a niece and nephews; an aunt; and cousins.

WILLIAM "BILL" MURPHY

BORN
Atlantic, Iowa
July 2, 1936

ENTERED INTO REST
Saturday, October 20, 2012
at the age of 76 years 3 months and 18 days
FUNERAL MASS
Wednesday, October 24, 2012, 10:30am
St. Mary's Catholic Church
Anita, Iowa

OFFICIATING
Father Dan Siepker

MUSICAL SELECTIONS
"Here I Am, Lord"
"One Bread, One Body"
"Song of Farewell"
"On Eagle's Wings"
By the St. Mary's Choir

ORGANIST
Artie Dusenberry

BEARERS
Duane Murphy Dennis Murphy Jeff Murphy
Dave Murphy Tom Murphy Brian Kessler

HONORARY BEARERS
Adam, Heather and Henry Wanie Matthew Aggen Haley and Ethan Wessling Mariah Murphy
Nicole and Logan Eilts

FLOWER COMMITTEE
Cliff and Nova Wright Wilbur and Karen Berger

COMMITTAL SERVICE
Anita Cemetery Anita, Iowa

LUNCHEON
Bill's family invites everyone to join them
for a luncheon back at St. Mary's Church
following the interment.

Roland Funeral Service Atlantic, Iowa