Harold Murra, 79
Harold Murra
Blue Earth Harold Murra, age 79, of Blue Earth, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 24, 2013, at Oaklawn Healthcare Center in Mankato, where he resided for 9 days receiving hospice care. He remained courageous and hopeful in his 3 year battle with a muscle wasting disease which caused a progressive decline in his activity levels and his overall health.
Memorial Service will be 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013, at Jacobsen & Winter Funeral Home in Blue Earth with Rev. Brent Walker officiating. A time for sharing memories of Harold will begin at 1 p.m. the day of the service.
Harold Murra was born Feb. 11, 1933, to John Sr. and Katie (Winter) Murra at the family farm northwest of Thompson, Iowa. He grew up there and on the family homestead southwest of Buffalo Center, Iowa.
Harold received his education attending country school in Lincoln and Winnebago townships in rural Kossuth County, Iowa, through completion of the 8th grade. He left school to work on the family farm until he was selected by his friends and neighbors to join the United States Army. He served his country from Oct. 22, 1953, through Oct. 6, 1955, including military assignments in Germany where he worked as a truck driver.
On May 23, 1954, Harold married Arline Prescher at First Lutheran Church in Waldorf. Their union was blessed with two children.
Following his discharge from the U.S. Army, Harold worked on construction of the large cement elevator in Buffalo Center in 1956, then at Creameries in Wells and Estherville, Iowa, as a butter maker, cream and milk tester until 1966 when he moved his family to Blue Earth where he would live the rest of his life. Harold worked at Schwens Ice Cream as an ice cream maker, at Gerring Industries/Holly Park as a cabinet maker and supervisor, at Winnebago Manufacturing as an Industrial Painter, and at Seneca Foods and Green View as a custodian. He also enjoyed assisting local farmers with field work. He retired from his position at Green View in 2010, because of his muscle disease
Harold enjoyed family time and gatherings with his immediate and extended family, as well as his garden and growing flowers. His favorite activity of all was enjoying coffee and informational sessions at the local “house of knowledge”, aka, McDonald’s. He looked forward to his visits with the coffee gang there daily.
Harold will be greatly missed by his wife, Arline Murra, of Blue Earth; his children, Glenn (Jennifer) Murra, of Elmore, and Gwen (Terry) Hendricksen, of North Mankato; granddaughter, Dr. MacKenzie (Brian) Pellin, of Madison, Wis.; five grandcats; six granddogs; and four great-granddogs.
Harold is also survived by three sisters, Lydia Lovik, of Forest City, Iowa, Clara Swalve, of Princeton, Ill., and Mildred (Byron) Stromer, of Garner, Iowa; two brothers, Willis Murra, of Buffalo Center, and Cecil (Virgie Ann) Murra, of Albert Lea; brother-in-law, Arlen (Jean) Prescher, of Albert Lea; sisters-in-law, Bernice Murra, of Blue Earth, Mary Murra and Ruth Murra, both of Buffalo Center; as well as many nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Harold was preceded in death by his parents; parents-in-law, Arlo and Adeline Prescher; three brothers, Donald, John Jr., and Raymond; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and close friends.