Leo Emmett Murphy

Mass of Christian Burial for Leo Murphy, age 84, of Milaca, will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 at 11 AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Milaca with Fr. Jim Remmerswaal, OSC officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Tuesday. Interment will take place at Calvary Cemetery in Austin, MN at a later date. Memorials preferred to the Milaca Food Shelf or to the Mille Lacs Health System Hospice Program. Leo E. Murphy, age 84 of Milaca MN, born September 12, 1928, died February 7, 2013. Leo was preceded in death by his parents, Emmett and Winifred; son, Michael James; brother-in-law, Arden Stromberg and great granddaughter, Madison Corrigan. Survived by his wife, Sharon; sister, Kathleen (Marion) Stanton; sons, Thomas (Donna), Mark, Kevin (Elizabeth); daughter, Marcia (Tom) Ritter; daughter-in-law Patricia; former wife, Mary Ellen Murphy; step-daughters, Brenda (James) Olness and Laurie (James) Corrigan,; 16 grandchildren and 3 great grandchildren as well as cousins, nieces and nephews. Leo served in the Army during the Korean War. He worked for many years as a lineman for Austin Utilities. In 1971 he accepted a job as a linemen training and safety instructor with the MN Dept of Vocational Education. In 1980 he became District Manager, Safety Coordinator with East Central Electric in Milaca. After several heart surgeries, Leo retired in 1989 and spent winters in AZ. He loved to fish and was active in the community and at the Milaca Golf Course.The family would like to offer special thanks to several Milaca area neighbors for their help in caring for Leo in his final days; Alana Tuttle from Mille Lacs Health System Hospice Program, Cheryl Knapp, Barb Kotsmith, and Mary Ann Welsch. Many thanks also to Leo’s granddaughter, Katie Murphy, for her presence over the past several weekends.