Donald E. Malphy, 84, of Ontario passed away Wednesday, Sept. 26, 2012, at Vernon Manor in Viroqua.
He was born Dec. 24, 1927, to John and Nell (Kinsella) Malphy in Ontario. He grew to adulthood in the Ontario and Hillsboro areas and graduated from the Hillsboro High School. Don served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, earning the Korean Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal and United Nations Service Medal.
Don worked as a heavy equipment operator for Overgaard Construction for 33 years. He was a member of the Bredlow Ewing American Legion Post 467 in Ontario. He enjoyed spending time with his grandsons, fishing and gardening, and he was known for tilling many of his friend’s gardens.
Survivors include his son, Kris (Jennifer) Malphy, and his grandsons, Brock and Jake, all of Hillsboro; and his brother, Joseph (Gloria) Malphy, and his sister, Mary O’Connor, both of Elroy. He was preceded in death by his parents and four sisters, Madeline Walker, Patricia Arttus, Rita Lawrence and Rose Burdick.
Funeral services were at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 29, at Burr Wesleyan Church, rural Hillsboro, with Rev. Alan Tripp officiating. Burial with military rites was in Forest-Burr Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Vernon Memorial Hospice. The Picha Funeral Home in Hillsboro assisted the family. For online information, go to www.pichafuneralhomes.com.
