James Murphy
December 16, 2017
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Service Details
James L. (Jim) Murphy died December 16, 2017, peacefully at home. He was born in 1932 in Georgetown, Illinois and moved to Terrill, Iowa in 1951 where he farmed for 11 years. In 1962 he moved to Polk County and farmed and operated a nursery and Christmas tree farm east of Des Moines in the Runnells area.
He was a member of the Centennial United Methodist Church, the Runnells Lions Clubs, The Polk County Central Committee, the Southeast Polk Rural Water Board, Mid American Christmas Tree Association, Past President of the Iowa Christmas Tree Growers and President of the Farmer Elevator Company Board.
With the help of his wife Marilyn they established Murphy’s Walnut Hill Nursery at their home farm east of Des Moines. Since then, they have planted hundreds of thousands of trees on private and public land, in farmstead windbreaks and in residential and commercial landscaping.
Jim was particularly pleased with helping the City of Altoona establish their own tree nursery to encourage public acceptance of natural beautification. Thousands of trees planted for the Army Corps of Engineers at the Saylorville and Red Rock reservations have now become impressive forests. His work in stream bank riparian plantings to control runoff and filter out pollutant will provide continuing benefits for the environment.
Jim is survived by his wife, Marilyn; daughter, Anne (Todd) Owens of Ankeny; and brother, Dr. John (Judy) Murphy of Boone. He was preceded in death by his parents, Joseph and Josephine Murphy; and his sister, Patricia Coleman.
Per his wishes, his body has been deeded to the University of Iowa Hospitals. A celebration of his life will be held 2 p.m. Thursday, December 21, 2017 at Centennial United Methodist Church, 9150 E. University Ave., Ivy. Family will greet friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the church.
Memorial contributions may be expressed to the Polk County Democratic Central Committee, the Iowa Farmers Union Budget Fund, or The Salvation Army.
Condolences may be expressed at:
www.HamiltonsFuneralHome.com
Jordan Miller
12/22/2017
My sincere condolences. I have known Jim and Marilyn for nearly 20 years. As a teenager, they kindly let me fish at their farms ponds and Ive always considered them friends. Im very saddened to hear of Jims passing.
Mary Gutierrez
12/20/2017
My sincere condolences. May GOD's word comfort you during this sad time. Isaiah 26:19; Rev.21:4.
Diane Smid-Breyfogle
12/19/2017
Anne, I am sorry to hear of the loss of your father. May God's grace and peace be with you and your family.
Guy/Carlen Freeman
12/19/2017
Sorry to read of the loss of Jim. Our thoughts are with all of Jim's family during this difficult time. Know Jim will be missed by all who knew him. Jim and Marilyn have been great neighbors since we moved in a few houses south of them in 1976
Robert Diehl
12/19/2017
Jim was a good friend to our family and mentor to me. He taught me many things as a young man. I learned to be a steward of the land, how to plant a tree properly and the ethic of hard work.
I will always think of him and smile when I set up a Christmas tree or vote for a democratic!
My thoughts and prayers are with Marilyn and Anne.