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Jeremiah Patrick Murphy, age 66, of 4720 Airport Avenue, Wisconsin Rapids, WI died Friday, March 6, 2015 at his residence, surrounded by his family.
Funeral Services are 11:00 AM Thursday, March 12, 2015 at St. Bronislavas Catholic Church, Plover, WI. Msgr. Jeff Burrill will officiate. Visitation will be at Ritchay Funeral Home in Wisconsin Rapids, WI from 4:00-8:00 PM Wednesday and Thursday at the Church from 10:00-11:00 AM. There will be a Knights of Columbus Rosary at 6:30 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery at a later date.
Jerry was born May 7, 1948 in San Francisco, CA to Cornelius and Julia Veronica (Sullivan) Murphy. Murph was raised in an Irish community in Noe Valley. He married Kathleen Brockman on April 16, 1970 at Fort Shaftner Chapel in Honolulu, Hawaii. He attended St. Philips Grade School, James Lick Middle School and Mission High School. He also received degrees at a variety of institutions around the United States.
Murph served in the United States Army as a Military Policeman during the Vietnam War where he was honorably discharged in October 1970. He was a lifetime member of the VFW and active in his local chapter Baldwin Post #2534. He was also active in the Vietnam Veterans Association #101 of Wisconsin Rapids.
Murph was employed at the Anaconda Copper Mines in Butte, MT and at the San Francisco County Sheriffs Department for 9 years before moving to Wisconsin Rapids. Jerry worked for Consolidated Papers Inc., Biron Division, retiring in 2004; was also an Adjunct Instructor in the Police and Fire Sciences at Mid-State Technical college for 31 years. Jerry had a significant impact as the lead instructor on the development of the Firefighter II Academy and on the students who attended. He also taught for ALEA, LLC, Madison, WI Fire Science curriculum for their Community Based Residential Facility program retiring in 2014.
Jerry was a former Chief of the Grand Rapids Volunteer Fire Department, training officer, and member for 25 years; a member of the DNR Wildland Fire Overhead Team for over 20 years; a member of Wisconsin Society of Fire Science Instructors; Red Cross Volunteer for over 25 years; and recipient of the Green Bay Packers National Football League Community Quarterback Award in 2010. Jerry enjoyed being actively involved on various committees at his parish, St. Bronislavas. Jerry was a member of the 3rd and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus Council #1558 of Wisconsin Rapids.
Jerry is survived by his wife, Kathleen; two sons, Sean (Jamie) Murphy of Wisconsin Rapids, WI and Michael Murphy of Seoul, Korea; one daughter, Maureen (Eric) Richardson of Huntley, IL; three grandchildren, Brodie Patrick Richardson, Katelyn Ann Richardson and Jack Patrick Murphy; one sister, Noreen (Pat Conroy) Murphy of San Francisco, CA and sister in law, Christina Murphy of Pittsburgh, CA.
Jerry is also survived by 4 nephews; Brian Murphy, Daniel Lynch, Dennis Lynch, Dennis Murphy and the OBrien cousins of San Francisco, CA and the Fitzpatrick cousins of Ireland.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents and two brothers, Neil Murphy and Dennis Murphy, both of San Francisco, CA.
Special thanks to the staff at the UW Cancer Center and Ministry Home Care Hospice for the special care they gave Murph. |