James R. Murphy was born May 15, 1941, in Elroy, Wisconsin, on his farm to Hugh and Agnes Murphy.
He attended Fowler Prairie School and later graduated in 1959 from Elroy High School.
While attending high school, he began working at Northcott Motors and continued working there until 1964, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army. He served two years with the Army, stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., and was honorably discharged in 1966. After his return from military life, he began working construction for a brief time, until he found employment at Camp McCoy, and worked there for several years.
He then took over the family farm, working alongside his dad. He milked cows and kept the family farm going until 2016, when he sold his cows. He continued to live on the farm, caring for his cats, and then in 2017 he sold most of the farmland to his cousin, lifelong friend and school chum, Tommy Thompson.
James never married, but he did enjoy time with his nieces and nephews. He always tried to keep up with his great nieces and nephews following their football, basketball and baseball games. He was known as the “toothpick guy,” as he was seldom seen without one in his mouth and had a pocketful of spare ones. He was a constant around town with his daily tours around Elroy and social hour at the local watering holes.
He enjoyed following the Milwaukee Brewers, Green Bay Packers and Wisconsin Badgers.
James leaves behind his brother, Charles (Sonia) Murphy; his niece, Cindy Murphy; his nephews, Robert and Michael Murphy; his sister, Joann (Larry) Preuss; and his nephews, Brent and Ryan Preuss. He is further survived by several great- and great-great-nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were Friday, Jan. 24, at the Picha Funeral Home in Elroy. A time of visitation was Friday, Jan. 24. Interment with military rites was in St. Patrick’s Catholic Cemetery in Elroy.
The Picha Funeral Home in Elroy is assisting. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
