Peggy Gene Murphy

Peggy Gene Murphy, age 79, of Des Moines, IA, passed away on Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, IA after a recent fall. Peggy Gene was born April 3, 1943, in Mankato, MN to Christian Eugene “Gene” Schroeder and Thelma Wilhelmina “Peggy” (Beckmann) Schroeder. She was baptized on December 26, 1943, and confirmed in the Lutheran church on June 4, 1957. She overcame polio as a child. Peggy Gene attended Broadlawns nurses’ training in Des Moines, IA and worked at the Des Moines VA Medical Center as an oncology nurse. She always said, “I may not know how to do a lot of things, but I was a great nurse.” And she truly was.

On Richard Murphy’s birthday, July 8, 1970, he swept Peggy Gene Schroeder off her feet and made a harrowing trip to Omaha, NE to get married by a divorce judge. The judge told them, “Maybe since you started here, the marriage will last.” Can one imagine a black eye from a patient on your wedding day?

Her faith, nursing skills, and life experiences allowed her to save Richard’s life when six months after they were married, he had a horrible motorcycle accident. Peggy was born of German heritage, but when she married Richard, she became 100% Irish!

Though Peggy never gave birth to any children, she felt privileged to be “Mom” to Michael and Shellie Murphy. Peggy and Richard considered their best friend’s children, Kibbee Strom and Theresa Linn, JoAnne and her son John Prock, as family and she was “Auntie” to many.

She loved gardening, daisies, the Cubs, anything Irish, cars, Farkle with her friends and Missy, her kitty. Peggy and Richard spent many of their happiest years on their houseboat and often enjoyed playing Mr. and Mrs. Claus, but Jesus was still #1 in Peggy’s life.

She suffered much with arthritis and asthma most of her life, which also hindered her walking, but never deterred her from serving her Savior, Jesus Christ. She was a very disciplined and determined woman with her health including being a cancer survivor. “When things got tough, Peggy Gene got going!” She was an encouragement to so many. She made friends easily and was always kind, gracious, and patient, always saying, “Thank you,” when others helped her.

She joined Hope Lutheran Church in Des Moines, IA on November 10, 2013, and got involved in the Domestic Violence Center Ministry called “Hope for your Heart”, encouraging women through God’s Word. She loved studying her Bible and leading Bible Studies, inviting people to church and Bible studies, sharing her faith at every opportunity the Lord gave her. She fought the good fight to the end.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard, her parents, Gene and Thelma Schroeder, mother-in-law, Nathalie Murphy, a brother, Billy and his wife, Christine Schroeder, and brother-in-law, Richard Buttjer.

She is survived by her two children, Michael and Shellie Murphy; grandsons, Ryan, Jo, Matt and David; granddaughter, Jessica Murphy; siblings, Shirley Buttjer of Charles City, IA, Jimmy (Cora) Schroeder of Gilbert, AZ, Roberta (Mel) Flugge of Moore, OK, Nancy (John) Beyersdorf of Saginaw, MI; 23 nieces and nephews, and many friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to Peggy’s favorite ministry “Hope for your Heart” through Hope Lutheran Church. Please make checks payable to Hope Lutheran Church with memo: “Peggy Gene Murphy-Hope for your Heart".

Graveside service will be held at 9:30 a.m., Thursday, May 26, 2022 at Iowa Veterans Cemetery, Adel. Funeral service will follow at 11:30 a.m., at Hope Lutheran Church, 3857 E 42nd Street, Des Moines, IA 50317.

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