Murra, Arnold (1926-2018)

MURRA, HOVEY, STAGGS, QUALLEY, THORLAND, FARROW, JURGENS, JANSSEN, HARDER, EAST

Posted By: Paul Nagy (email)
Date: 2/23/2018 at 16:59:33

Arnold Murra
March 30, 1926 - January 27, 2018

Arnold Murra, 91, of Forest City, died peacefully on Saturday, January 27, 2018, at the Good Samaritan Center in Forest City.

Born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, to Dick and Mary Murra, Arnie lived most of his life in Forest City. Raised on a farm outside Buffalo Center, he grew up accustomed to hard work, a trait that he kept all his life. He started his career at Hanson Implement in Forest City during the late 1940s. Later, he became a co-owner of M&N Motors in Forest City, selling cars and farm machinery until he sold the business in the mid-1960s. Although he spent a good deal of time working in the implement and car business, Arnie had a real passion for auctioneering, a trade which he learned on his own. He continued in the auction business full-time well into his 70s, acquiring the moniker of Col. Arnie, a title in which he took extreme pride.

After retiring, he loved to travel, especially to see his children and growing number of grandchildren and to spend the cold Iowa winters in places like Arizona and Florida. He, also, enjoyed playing cards and shooting the breeze with many good friends after he retired, especially with his best friend and neighbor (partner in crime), Tom Bowen.

Arnie is preceded in death by his parents, Dick and Mary Murra; his brothers, Clarence, John, Bill, Dick, and Richard; and his sisters, Helen Hovey and Cornelia Staggs. He is survived by his wife of sixty-nine years, Burnette Qualley Murra, of Lake Mills; his three sisters, Arlene Thorland, of Mason City, Marian Farrow, of Buffalo Center, and Grace Jurgens, of Buffalo Center; and his three children and their families, Linda Murra (Van) Janssen, Sharon Murra (Rollin) Harder, and Wayne (Damaris) Murra.

A proud Grandpa “Arnie” to Brandon Harder, Christopher Janssen, Courtney Janssen East, Brita Murra, Zachary Murra, and Lucas Murra, he, also, considered himself so fortunate to have known and loved eight great grandchildren; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M., Friday, February 2, 2018, at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Forest City with Pastor Zech Anderson officiating. Visitation will take place during the hour before the service at the church on Friday. Burial will follow in Madison Township Cemetery in Forest City, Iowa. Memorials may be directed to Hospice of North Iowa or to Immanuel Lutheran Church in Arnie’s name.

Cataldo Schott Funeral Home, Forest City, Iowa, 2017.

Winnebago Obituaries maintained by Cheryl Siebrass.
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