Date of Birth:
Friday, February 6, 1942
Date of Death:
Thursday, June 13, 2019
Age:
77 years old

Peter Joseph Murphy

Peter Joseph Murphy, 77, of Rochester, died Thursday, June 13, 2019 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s Disease. He had resided at The Homestead Memory Care Unit the past two years.

Pete was born February 6, 1942 in Rochester, MN to John W. and Alice (Lonergan) Murphy. He graduated from Lourdes High School in 1961 and enlisted shortly after in the United States Marine Corp where he served from 1961-1964. He was stationed in Kodak, Alaska and participated in the Bay of Pigs, competing on the USMC boxing team.

On October 31, 1964, he married the love of his life Linda M. Todd at St Theodore’s Catholic Church in Albert Lea, MN. The couple lived in Rochester, MN all of their married lives. Pete worked as a master plumber for most of his life and also built houses which he really enjoyed and took great pride in.

Pete enjoyed spending all of his time with his family. He loved cheering on all of his grandchildren’s activities. He loved his trips to Vegas with his friends and brothers, Tom and Bob; enjoying craps and sports books where he usually ‘held his own.” Pete and Linda enjoyed traveling to Hawaii, New York City, and Arizona. He loved all animals, always supplying nuts for the squirrels, bags of apples for the horses, and cheese for the dogs.

Survivors include his wife, Linda M. (Todd) Murphy; daughters, Jamie of Rochester, and Kimberly (Aidan) Peterson of Shoreview; son, Christopher (Crystal Davis) Murphy of Rochester; seven grandchildren, Hadley (Matt Quarberg) Murphy, Ashley Peterson, Jessica Peterson, Lauren Murphy, Owen Murphy, Eleanora Murphy, and Finnian Murphy; and his devoted service dog, Hollister. He is also survived by his mother-in-law, Sophie Todd of Tucson AZ; and his siblings, Bob (Pat) Murphy of Rochester, Joe (Wanda) Murphy of Rochester, Sheila (Herb) Townsend of Rochester, Mark (Teri) Murphy of Rochester, and Mary (Mark) Morse of Hudson, WI.

His is preceded in death by his parents, John W. and Alice; five brothers, Jack, Jim, Don, Dick, and Tom; and one granddaughter, Elisabeth.

Memorials are preferred to the Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center of Mayo Clinic, Mayo Hospice, or Race to Remember (benefit for ADRC).

The funeral service for Pete will be held at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, June 18, 2019 in the River Park Chapel at Macken Funeral Home with Rev. Peter Schuster officiating. Visitation will be two hours prior to the service in the chapel. Burial will be in Calvary Cemetery in Rochester.