Patrick "Pat" Murphy

Patrick “Pat” Murphy, 76, died Monday, March 31, 2025, of complications following a heart attack. He died at Jefferson Regional Medical Center in Pine Bluff, AR, with his wife, Annette, at his side. Pat was born June 5, 1948, in Fond du Lac, to Ambrose and Dorothy (La Plant) Murphy. The second of seven children, he grew up enjoying fun and mischief on the family farm with his siblings, especially with his brothers.

Pat was a 1966 graduate of Campbellsport High School and earned an associate’s degree while serving in the US Navy. He enlisted for four years in the Navy after graduating high school graduation, and in 1976 joined the Navy Reserves. In 1988, Pat took a recall to active duty, serving until his retirement in 2008. He served during the 6-day Arab Israeli War in 1967, and in the first and second Gulf Wars. His Navy career spanned five different decades; he started as seaman recruit and rose to the rank of Chief Petty Officer (E7). Pat served on several ships, including the USS Little Rock, the USS Wisconsin, and the USS Iwo Jima. He loved serving in the Navy and made many lifelong friends. After retirement, Pat got involved with Navy Club Ship 75, Fond du Lac, serving two terms as commanding officer.

Following his first stint in the Navy, Pat worked construction for an agri-building manufacturer. After his eventual retirement from the Navy, he worked as a behind-the-wheel driving instructor with Ries Driving School. He was popular with his high-school students — “the kids loved him” — and younger siblings of prior students often requested Pat as their driving instructor.

Pat spent much of his non-Navy life close to home; he and his wife, Annette, lived less than a mile from the quarter-section where he was born and raised, building their home on the site of Grandma and Grandpa Murphy’s original homestead. Each spring, he would gather sap as the days warmed, sharing his delicious homemade maple syrup with friends and family. Pat was an avid outdoorsman, deer hunting with his late friend, Bruce, and later with his friend, Darryl. He also enjoyed fishing, especially an annual fishing trip with his lifelong friend, Bob. Pat was close to his family. The light of his life was his 18-month-old great granddaughter, Paisley Mae, and his great grandson, Braxton, age 5, who loved to grill out with his Pappaw.

Everyone who met Pat loved him for his easy-going and relatable personality. He was a good listener and had an agreeable nature.

Survivors include his wife, Marie Annette, Town of Eden; daughters, Sarah Lowe, Campbellsport, and Amanda (Jimmy) Poole, Hernando, MS; grandchildren, Erica Kriner, Pine Bluff, Hailey Lowe (special friend Nate Menacher), Krystina Murphy, Fond du Lac, Kenzie (Steven Toeller) Lowe, Ryan Lowe, and Abby Poole; great grandchildren, Braxton and Paisley Mae Toeller, and Jasper Murphy; foster daughter, Brenda Wilke Martin, and his close friend, Tony Lowe. He is further survived by a brother, Michael (Molly Rose), Lake Tomahawk; sisters, Mary (James) Dickens, Fond du Lac, Jane (John) Matusinec, Muskego, and Helen (Boyd) Plankinton, Holton, KS; sisters-in-law, Sharon (John) Murphy, Campbellsport, and Juanita (Daniel) Murphy, Lomira; brothers-in-law, Bo Epnett, Texas; sisters-in-law, Riki Epnett, Fond du Lac, and Ramona Garganeous, Pine Bluff; as well as many nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Christopher Michael Murphy; brothers, John and Daniel; nephew, Casey Murphy; and brothers-in-law, James Dickens, Jerry Garganeous, and Raymond Epnett.

Visitation will be held from 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM, Saturday, April 12, 2025, at Uecker-Witt Funeral Home. The funeral service will begin at 3:00 PM with Military Funeral Honors to follow. Cremation will follow the services.

Services are in the care of Uecker-Witt Funeral Home, 524 North Park Avenue, Fond du Lac, WI, 54935. Additional information and guestbook can be found at ueckerwitt.com