Edward J. Murphy, 85, of Rulo, NE, passed away September 11, 2014 at Falls City. He was born June 4, 1929 at St. Joseph, MO to the late Lawrence and Ruth (Kanaly) Murphy.

Ed enlisted in the U. S. Air Force on January 4, 1951 at Omaha, NE. He served Dow and Lowry Air Force Bases and earned a Korean Service Medal, UN Service Medal and a National Defense Service Medal. He was honorably discharged on November 12, 1953 at Bangor, ME.

Ed graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1947. After graduation he farmed until entering the Air Force in 1951. After his discharge he worked at the Rulo Elevator. Ed owned Murphy’s Grocery Store in Rulo for 30 years. After many years as a substitute rural mail carrier in the Rulo, White Cloud, Falls City and Shubert area he was appointed a regular route in 1982 and he retired in 1991. Ed served 7 years on the Sacred Heart School Board. Ed was an avid “Irish” sports fan for over 50+ years. He volunteered at Sacred Heart Football and Basketball games both on the chain gang and running the clock. Since 1967 he has recorded the weather temperature for the National Weather Service including reading the river gauges for the Corp of Engineers. For many years he volunteered for KQTV in St. Joseph with daily temperature readings for Rulo. He was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Rulo, active member of the Knights of Columbus serving as District Deputy for 5 councils in southeast Nebraska in the 90’s. He loved watching football, basketball and baseball, especially Notre Dame, Royals and Nebraska and spent many hours gardening and woodworking.

Ed is survived by his wife Marilyn of Rulo, daughter, Ruth Ann Huppert and her husband Steve of Falls City, grandchildren, David of Lincoln, NE, Drew of Beatrice, Derek and Madison of Falls City. He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Loretta Murphy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Tuesday, September 16, 2014 at 10:30 AM at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church at Rulo with Father David Oldham as the presiding priest. Interment will be in Falls City Catholic Cemetery. Military graveside honors by Falls City Ceremonial Honor Guard.

A Parish Rosary will be recited on Monday at 7:00 PM at Dorr and Clark Funeral Home with family receiving friend afterwards.