Doreen Murray passed away peacefully May 2, 2023, after a full life of 98 years and 167 days. To be honest, she never really wanted to make it to 100 anyway.
She was born on Nov. 16, 1924, in Frederic, Wisconsin, but grew up and lived most of her life on Devils Lake, a couple of miles north of Webster, Wisconsin. During the summer months, it would be fair to say she lived “in” Devils Lake, for Doreen loved being in the water. Whether an ocean, a pool, or a lake, she would always be up for a swim.
Doreen graduated from Webster High School as the class valedictorian in 1942 and returned to her hometown to teach high school home economics after receiving her bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota. In 1944, Doreen interrupted her college career to enlist in the Navy as a member of the Women's Naval Reserve, also known as the WAVES. After World War II ended, Doreen returned home to finish her college degree. She also married Navy corpsman Earl Murray, whom she met in Massachusetts.
Doreen raised five adventurous (she might have called them mischievous) sons, along with several dogs. She was not really a cat person. Doreen was always super busy, earning the nickname Zoom-Zoom by a Laotian family that moved to Webster in the ‘70s. If she was not spending time with her sisters and their families, ironing sheets, making dinner, baking cookies, weeding the garden, canning, or keeping an eye on those adventurous boys, she was off helping someone else. She volunteered at a nearby nursing home, donated blood every time the bloodmobile came to town, helped get Head Start running in Burnett County, and was first in line to help someone in the community who was down and needed support. If that was not enough, she also served as president of the Superior Diocesan Council of Catholic Women for a term and province director for another term in the ‘80s. Oh, and we cannot forget that she played organ for church every Saturday night and Sunday morning for over 40 years. She also played the organ for funerals and weddings if someone asked. Doreen had a hard time attending church services where there was no music.
Doreen was very driven and, in some ways, ahead of her time. She was also very old school, where serving her family, the church and her community took priority over focusing on herself. She treasured being a mother, especially a grandmother. Doreen in six words - family, faith, music, swimming, baking and ice cream. She truly loved a vanilla ice cream malt.
Doreen did have her faults though … she never liked chocolate. God will surely overlook this transgression.
Doreen is survived by her four sons, John (Sonia), Mike (Carol), Tim (Judy) and Tom (Eileen); sister, Olive Klatt; and numerous grandchildren, great-grandchildren and great-great-grandchildren. Preceding Doreen in death were her husband, Earl (2010); sons, Joseph (1959) and Patrick (2020); brother, Ronald Nelson (1999); and sister, Rosemarie Pardun (2001).
Doreen’s funeral will be held Friday, May 19, at 1 p.m. at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake, Wisconsin. The family will receive guests for an hour prior to the funeral service at the church. There will be a private interment where she will be laid to rest in St. John the Baptist Catholic Cemetery in Webster, next to her husband.
In lieu of flowers, donations made to the Milwaukee Catholic Home, 2462 N. Prospect Ave., Milwaukee, WI 53221, where Doreen resided for the last five years, would be greatly appreciated. Local arrangements were entrusted to Swedberg-Taylor Funeral Home, Webster. Online condolences can be made at swedberg-taylor.com.
