Frederick Murphy

Frederick P. Murphy age 91 of Fredericksburg died Tuesday, April 10, 2012 at Mercy Medical Center in New Hampton. Funeral services will be held 1:30 p.m. Friday, April 13 2012, at Peace United Church of Christ with Pastor Burt Williams presiding. Interment will be in Rose Hill Cemetery, Fredericksburg with Norb Gansen, David Speicher, Ken Scholbrock, Dale Miller, Ron Brown and Harry Ross serving as pallbearers. Honorary Pallbearers will be Ed Eisele, James Kottke, Lyle Steege and Roy Speicher. Friends may greet the family 4:00 – 7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 12, 2012, at Peace United Church of Christ in Fredericksburg. Visitation continues an hour prior to the funeral at the church on Friday. Hugeback & Chenoweth Funeral Home in Fredericksburg is in charge of arrangements. Frederick Paul Kaczrowoski Murphy was born November 6, 1920 in Altario, Alberta, Canada, the son of Paul S. and Bertha M. (Baronowski) Kaczorowski. On February 24, 1942 the entire family changed the last name to Murphy. The Murphy family moved to California in July of 1922 where Fred grew up on a ranch southeast of San Diego. He learned about farming and machinery while his father was a police officer in San Diego. After graduating from San Diego High School he became employed at Rohr Aircraft. This is where he met his wife, Helen Wesp of Fredericksburg, IA. They both worked at the aircraft plant and he was her line supervisor. The couple were married on August 5, 1944, after he joined the Army. Upon his discharge from the Army in 1946, the couple moved to Fredericksburg where Fred was employed at Kersen-Wesp Implement. In the 19 50’s he became a partner of the Implement business. With partner changes later on it became Murphy & Eisele Implement and is currently Red Power south of New Hampton. Fred was a lifetime member of the American Legion, a Lions Club member, along with a member of the Peace United Church of Christ since 1946. As a charter member of the Plum Creek Golf Course he contributed many volunteer hours; building the greens and planting trees on the course. Left to cherish his memory is one daughter, Diane Murphy of Fredericksburg; one son, Steven (Jean) Murphy of Lawrenceville, GA; one grandson, Todd (Jen) Murphy of Sugar Hill, GA; One sister, Virginia Milnes of Seattle WA; two sister-in-laws, Lucille Wesp of Fredericksburg, Edith Murphy of San Diego, CA; numerous nieces and nephews throughout the United States. Fred was preceded in death by his parents, his wife; Helen in 2005. A brother Paul Jr. and sister Esther Sweeney.