Obituaries 8 July 2018

Thomas C. Murphy, 72

Thomas C. Murphy, 72, of Caledonia, Minn., died Friday, June 29, 2018, at Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse, Wis., weeks after being diagnosed with cancer.
Tom was born June 6, 1946, in New Hampton to Gerald and Loretta (Klenske) Murphy. He graduated from New Hampton High School in 1964 and graduated from the University of Iowa in 1968 with a bachelor’s degree in economics. He served in the Army from 1969 to 1971. After his service he returned to New Hampton and worked for New Hampton Newspapers.
In 1972 Tom became publisher of The Caledonia Argus. He was one of six people to purchase The Argus after longtime owner and publisher Ray Ryan became ill with cancer. Ray’s daughter, Angela Ryan, returned to Caledonia to help her family and planned to work at the newspaper for only a short time after the sale. But she decided to stay in her hometown, and she and Tom were married on April 7, 1973, at St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Caledonia. In 1975 Tom and Angela bought the remaining shares in The Argus to become the sole owners; they made their last payment on the sale in the 1980s. They sold the newspaper in 1998. Tom later worked for Mutual of Omaha before retiring.
Tom was thankful for family, friendships, work and community. He served on the Ability Building Center and ABLE boards in southeastern Minnesota and helped establish the Rotary Club in Caledonia. He was a longtime member of Loveless-Eikens American Legion Post 191 in Caledonia. From 2009 to 2014 he served on the Caledonia City Council. He enjoyed talking with people, reading, playing golf, and traveling. He and Angela were wonderful parents.
He was preceded in death by Angela in 2016; a son, Patrick Murphy; his parents Gerald and Loretta Murphy; sister and brother-in-law Susan and Edwin Koezly Jr.; father- and mother-in-law Raphael and Caryl Ryan; and brothers-in-law Thaddeus Katzmark and Michael Ryan.
Survivors include a daughter, Cathleen (Scott) Swendsen of Lakewood, Colo.; a son, John Murphy of Caledonia; sisters Sally Katzmark of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Laurie (James) Davis of Charles City, Iowa; brother Walter (Glennda) Murphy of New Hampton, Iowa; sisters-in-law Mary (Michael) Hansen of North Las Vegas, Nev., and Barbara (Craig) Rollins of Caledonia; brother-in-law Kevin (Mary) Ryan of Sioux Falls, S.D.; and many nephews and nieces.
Funeral services will be held at 11 am Thursday, July 12 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Caledonia with Fr. Stephen Abaukaka officiating. Visitation will be held from 4 pm to 7 pm Wednesday, July 11 at McCormick Funeral Home in Caledonia and one hour before the service on Thursday. Inurnment will be at Calvary Cemetery in Caledonia.
McCormick Funeral Home, Caledonia, is assisting the family.

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