Dolores Etten Murphy

Dolores Susan (Etten) Murphy, age 93, passed away peacefully at her daughter's home with many of her loving family close by on September 23, 2011. Dolores was the fourth of five children for Louis and Mathilda (VanLanen) Etten born on their farm in Greenleaf on July 17, 1918. Louis died very young in 1929, and in 1931 Mathilda met and married George School of Freedom and Dolores gained eight stepbrothers and sisters. Dolores entered Freedom High School in 1931 where she met the love of her life, Joe Murphy. She loved school, was a conference champion in forensics in 1934 and a cheerleader for the basketball team. She graduated in 1935 and they married on April 20, 1937. They farmed first in Oneida and later in Freedom. They were members of Immaculate Conception and then St. Nicholas Parish, Dolores a member of the Christian Mothers and an enthusiastic choir member. She became friends with the nuns at St. Nicholas School and helped them in their convent, chauffeured them to movies and shopping, and made frequent deliveries of homemade bread and cookies.

Dolores was a 'stay at home mom' and enjoyed working in the home and on the farm. She was a good cook, but an excellent baker of homemade bread, cinnamon rolls, raised doughnuts and pies. Dolores was an expert Sheepshead player and played to win!! Dolores was an avid reader and a lover of poetry. She was a lover of music, singing and dancing whenever she felt the urge. She was also an excellent seamstress, sewing clothing for herself, her kids and later, grandkids. When Annie was in high school Dolores began a career in sewing and alterations at J.C. Penney's, and later at Close's in Appleton. Once she retired, she began a hobby of quilt making and crocheted rug making—works of art given to be treasured by her children and grandchildren.

Dolores was preceded in death by her parents, her loving husband Joe, as well as two sisters and brothers-in-law: Grace and Woodrow Diehl, Pearl and Cliff Rosera, and a brother and sister-in-law: Marvin and Jane Etten. She is survived by her brother Earl, her children Dr. James and Sandra Murphy of Stuart, Florida; Dr. William and Lita Murphy of Colchester, Vermont; Zelda Murphy of Galena, Missouri; Jeanne and Dan Patenaude of Butternut, Mike and Kerry Howard-Murphy of Juneau, Alaska; Joe and Malia Murphy of Freedom and Dr. Annie Murphy and Brian Curtis of Silverdale, Washington. She also leaves behind fifteen grandchildren: Pamela, Sara, Leann and Patrick Murphy, Michelle Ertle and Nicole Murphy, Renae Keep and Lisa Cunningham, Rebecca Baron and Katie Rybak, Joseph Murphy, III, Shawn Briggs and Shannon Kieler, Erin and Andrew Curtis. She will be missed by twelve great grandchildren: Evan Capelle, Ciara and Nathan Ertle, Tristin Houston, Penelope Keep, Hannah and Rachel Baron, Alayna and Sydney Rybak, Rory and Ian Kieler and Gavin Briggs as well as very many special nieces and nephews.

The funeral liturgy for Dolores will be held at 4:00 PM on Friday, September 30, 2011 at ST. NICHOLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH in Freedom with Fr. Dave Hoffman officiating. Interment will follow in the parish cemetery. Friends may call directly at the church on Friday afternoon from 2:00 PM until the hour of the service.

The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, memorials be sent to Flambeau Home Health and Hospice in Phillips, Wisconsin. It is with their loving assistance that Dolores was able to end her life at home.

Fargo Funeral Home
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, WI 54130
920-766-6200