Richard Bruce Murphy
Mass of Roman Catholic Burial will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, March 1, 2025 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Friendship, Wisconsin. Father David Bruener will officiate. Interment will be at the St. Leo Catholic Cemetery, Friendship, Wisconsin. Visitation will be 4 to 6 p.m. on Friday, February 28th, 2025 at Roseberry’s Funeral Home and again at the church on Saturday morning from 10 a.m. until the time of Mass.
Richard was born December 17, 1937, in Clinton, Iowa to Michael Jerome and Ruth Ann (Chamberlin) Murphy. He was the oldest of three children and was raised in Clinton alongside his sisters Margaret and Jeanne. Richard left Clinton to study at the University of Iowa in the school of Business. He had his first career as a corporate Manager of JC Penney stores. During this time, and while working in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, he met and fell in love with Rhodona Long. They were married on June 30th 1962 in Medford, Wisconsin, and recently celebrated 62 years of marriage. After 6 more years with JC Penney Corp he settled in Adams-Friendship, WI to raise his family and start his own department store,” Murph’s Department Store”, on Main St in Adams. After a change in the retail market, he was forced to change careers and started a scratch insurance agency in 1986, which supported his family until he retired in 2002. He would spend the remainder of his days in Friendship, WI as a loving husband, father, and grandfather.
Richard was extremely passionate about his hunting and fishing. The center of his enjoyment was his hunting trips to Alaska, North and South Dakota and his Canadian Fishing trips. He particularly loved his hunting dogs, from his boyhood dog Butch, to his Irish Setter Kim and his Water Spaniels; Tasha, Pepper and Shilo.
Richard was very active within his community of Adams-Friendship and supported the growth of A-F with his involvement in various clubs and organizations. He was a volunteer firefighter and a member of the Catholic Church Parish Council, the Knights of Columbus, Ducks Unlimited, and Lions Club.
Memorials may be directed in Richard's memory to Ducks Unlimited.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents: Michael and Ruth; His Sister Margaret and his eldest son Christopher.
Richard is survived by his wife, Rhodona Murphy of Friendship; Sister, Jeanne Ford; Daughter, Dawn (Murphy) Calhoun of Lemont IL; Son, Craig Murphy of Adams WI; Daughter In-laws, Kathy Murphy and Natalie Murphy; Grand Children, Sasha, Mary, Kelly, Leah, Ashley, Cory, Michael, Christopher, Macie and Garret; Great Grand Children, Zenaraya, Novalee, and Adelaide.
Roseberry’s Funeral Home is assisting the family. Visit www.roseberrys.com for online condolences.
Was saddened to hear that Dick has passed. Condolences to your family. He is and will be greatly missed my many.
I had the pleasure of working with Dick when he had Murphy’s. He was a wonderful man. Know that my thoughts & prayers are with you all.
Dear Donna, Dawn, Craig and family,
Dave and I are so very sorry to hear about Dick’s passing. He was such a kind man. He always had a smile and welcoming presence about him. Donna, you and Dick have always been a gentle, friendly, generous couple to the AF community. Please know the difference you both have made here. Thank you. God Bless you and your family with much love, many prayers and caring support.
So sorry for your loss. Craig, I will let Jeff know. Diane Roekle
💔for family & friends. Memories are forever
So sorry for your family’s loss
My deepest sympathy and prayers to
all of Richard’s family. It was nice meeting you and Richard thru the Farmers Insurance conventions. May your many memories sustain you thru this difficult time.
Craig, very sorry to see the passing of your Dad. Murph was a great guy, it was always great to see him at the Lincoln Day Dinners and around town over the years, he will be missed. Sincere condolences to his wife & family.
Donna, Craig, Dawn and family,
Our family sends our condolences to all of you at this difficult time. Your dad was a wonderful person. Growing up, I remember our annual trips from Appleton to Friendship and Murph’s department store to stock up on back-to-school clothes and then enjoying Donna and Dick’s hospitality at their home and exploring the out-of-doors with Chris, Craig and Dawn. Donna and my mom Lucy had a long time friendship that dated back to their college days at UW-Eau Claire and the sorority that they belonged to and then both of them met Dick and my dad Roy during their teaching days in Manitowoc. My husband Steve recalls joining Dick on turkey hunts. So, many years of friendship and memories for our family and yours. Will always remember the twinkle in your dad’s eye when he smiled and his warm sense of humor and devoted care for your mom.
So sorry for your family’s loss…
Dawn, Donna, Craig and family,
Am so sorry for you loss. He was one of my best friends. We did many things together from fishing in Canada, fishing on Lake Michigan., Hunting in Alaska, ice fishing, and many hunting deer places. He was my best friend.
Sending our thoughts and prayers to the family..
To the Murphy family,
My condolences. “Murph” as we called him at the office, was always a welcome visitor when he came in for his coffee mornings.
A great guy, he was a wonderful asset to our community. I’m so sorry.
Dawn, Craig, Donna, and family:
I was surprised and saddened to hear of Dick’s passing and want to share my condolences with all of you. I have many fond memories of the times that the Valitchka and Murphy families spent together over the past 60 years and always remember those shared family experiences around Adams-Friendship, Little Maiden Lake, Neenah, and Appleton.
Dick’s care for friends and family, his generosity, long-term loyalty, helpfulness, and community minded spirit will always stand out in my mind. I will miss the times we shared over meals and through hunting, fishing, and outdoor experiences. Those experiences now are stories that live on as warm memories when they are reflected on and re-told.
I want you to know that we are thinking of all of you and share in your sense of loss over Dick’s passing as Dick touched many in memorable ways through his character, integrity, and time with all of us. With sympathy.
Scott
Our condolences to the family.
To Richards family our sincere condolences from Scott!
We are very sorry for your loss. We have very fond memories of your Dad when he would stop in for coffee talk all those years. We will definitely miss him!
Donna, Dawn & family : Amy and I are deeply saddened by this news. It has been many years, but I do fondly remember the many visits to the Murphy house in my high school/college years. I had many conversations with Dick during those years. I remember him telling me I needed to cut my hair if I ever wanted to get a “professional” job, lol. I can say with certainty that he passed on some great advice to me in those early years that I can fondly recall to this day. We had some great talks back in the day. As busy lives go, it has been too many years since our last conversation and for that I have regrets. Godspeed to you Dick, you lived a great life and you were a great man.
Always a pleasant man. My condolences to the family
I’m sorry to hear of Dicks passing.Hold on to the memories. He was a good man!
RIP Dearest second, Dad, Dick. 🙏✝️❤️
I spent countless hours at the Murphy house and was treated like family there for the past 50 years. Dick instilled humor, a stern but tender heart, presence, conversation, advice, a listening ear, guidance only when you desired it, unless when I was under 18 and needed some parental guidance towards my squirreliness.
He took what life dished his way in stride with his faith at the helm and remained level headed and lead his family with confidence.
I can still hear him in my head saying…”Well ya know, Christie…” and I will remember those words, his voice, smile, laugh and his candid look with his deep chocolate brown eyes, the window to his soul.
RIP Dick🙏✝️❤️
Sending ❤️ to Beloved Donna, Dawn, Craig, Natalie, Christopher, Garret and all extended family.🙏✝️❤️
Dear Donna, Dawn, Craig, and Family,
It grieved us to hear about Dick passing away, and we are keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this time of sorrow.
Take Care and God Bless!!!
Lennard A. Wilson and Family
So sorry for your loss, sending prayers
We are so sorry to hear of dicks passing. He was a great guy and will be missed.
Craig and family So sorry to read about your dad. First met him in 1976 when we moved here. He was always friendly and helpful. Remember the good times and he is now at peace.
So saddened to hear of Dick’s passing. He was a great contributer to the AF community and will be missed. Thoughts and prayers to the family
Dear Donna, Dawn, Craig and Family
I am so saddened to see that Mr “M” has passed. Only a couple of us that worked for him at Murphy’s Dept. Store (called him Mr “M”), back in the late 70’s till the closing of Murphy’s.
He was a Wonderful Boss and a Great Friend. Please accept our condolences and know thoughts and prayers are with all of you during this difficult and sad time. Thinking of you all, and praying you find comfort and strength. ❤️Love and Hugs to you all….he will be remembered by so many!!!
Dawn and family: Kim and I are deeply sorry for your loss. Dick was a wonderful person who touched the lives of many. We wish you strength and comfort during this difficult time. May Dick’s memory be a blessing to his family and friends.