Jerry Murphy

John J. "Jerry" Murphy passed away peacefully in his sleep on Sunday, November 6, 2022 at the age of 75 at his home in Rathdrum, Idaho. He was born to Willard J. and Virginia R. (nee Floren) Murphy on August 8, 1947.
Jerry was preceded in death by his parents, and is survived by his children Daniel (Melissa), Rob (Jessica), and Alicia Iannece (Anthony); grandchildren Liam, Landon, Bradley, Noah, James, Asher, Josie, Henry, and Caterina; and brothers William and Robert (Elizabeth). He is further survived by many dear friends back in the midwest, as well as his extended family of trapshooters in Wisconsin and throughout the rest of the country.
A 1965 graduate of Antioch Community High School in Antioch, Illinois, Jerry went on to get degrees from the College of Lake County (Grayslake, Illinois) and Carthage College (Kenosha, Wisconsin). He enlisted in the Air National Guard of Illinois in 1969 and was honorably discharged in 1973. He went on to get his commercial pilot's license and would often fly family and friends around the upper Midwest for both business and pleasure.
Jerry spent several years working in different positions within the Illinois State Government as a lobbyist, an administrative aide, and then was later appointed the Chairman of both the Lake County Board of Review and the Chain of Lakes Study Commission. Following that period, he joined his family in the founding and development of The Camp Delton Club, The Highlands Racquet Sports Club, and the Tamarack Resort, all located in the Wisconsin Dells resort area.
Jerry continued to be involved with the Tamarack Resort as their primary builder and general contractor through his company Murphy-Wisconsin, Inc., erecting mostly all of the buildings on the property as well as many custom homes in the Wisconsin Dells area.
Growing up in northern Illinois, Jerry spent a significant portion of his childhood hunting ducks and enjoying the outdoors. This continued into adulthood, and afforded him the opportunity to make lifelong memories with friends and family. But he most cherished his time spent in the field with his father and brothers, and then eventually also his sons and son-in-law. To him the actual hunt was second only to the camaraderie and the stories shared with his hunting companions.
He began trapshooting in the 1970s as a way to sharpen his hunting skills, and he quickly became obsessed with the sport. In 1978 he became a life member of the Amateur Trapshooting Association, and thus began a 40+ year registered trapshooting career that would see him fire at over 365,000 clay targets, winning numerous awards and accomplishing many feats while competing throughout the country. He was an 11-time member of the Wisconsin All-State Men's Trapshooting Team, served for eight years on the Board of Directors for the Wisconsin Trapshooters Association (including three years as the Wisconsin Delegate to the Amateur Trapshooting Association Board of Directors), and in July of 2016 he was enshrined as a member of the Wisconsin Trapshooting Hall of Fame.
It's no doubt that Jerry made his mark on the sport of trapshooting through his shooting accomplishments and his service to the local and national trapshooting organizations. But trapshooting also had a profound impact on him in the form of countless friendships with people he met along the way, and in the opportunities he had to share the sport with his children and their families. One of his greatest joys was being able to teach and mentor other shooters on the nuances of the game, and he did it with an infectious passion and conviction that would convert even the most casual trapshooter into a staunch enthusiast. And as you walked off the line once shooting was done for the day, you could always count on Jerry to be waiting for you with a cold beer and a twinkle in his eye as he asked you how well you shot.
Jerry was a man who wore many hats and had many talents and interests. He was a devoted Father to his children, a loving Papa to his grandchildren, a best friend to his brothers, a stalwart companion to his friends, a legendary trapshooter, a lifelong proficient duck hunter (with a soft spot for Labradors), a connoisseur of fine wines and good cigars, a craftsman who could build just about anything, a gourmet chef, a racing enthusiast and Harley guy, and an overall lover of life. He passed peacefully and with a demeanor of one who knew his life was complete. His family and friends will miss him deeply but can't help but feel blessed to have had Jerry in their lives. He would not want you to grieve too long but rather raise a glass in his honor. And when you do, make a toast to life itself, with all of its funny twists and turns, along with a nod to Jerry Murphy - one who negotiated well whatever hand he was dealt.
A celebration of life is being planned for Spring of 2023. Memorials may be directed to the causes you love.