Carl C. Murdock

Carl C. Murdock, Sr., passed away peacefully Saturday, June 28, 2014 at St. Luke’s hospital following many years of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.  

Carl was born to Rev. Reynolds and Elsie (Kerr) Murdock Sept. 11, 1927, in Mt. Pleasant. He enlisted in the Navy in 1945, serving during World War II on board the USS Hopi, a fire-fighting and rescue tugboat for the Atlantic Fleet. After his tour of duty ended, he came home to farm near Ogden. In 1950, he married Ferne Anderson, and the couple had two sons. When poor health ended his farming career, Carl retrained as an accountant, and for many years, he operated his own accounting business in Cedar Rapids.  Ferne passed away in 1987.

In 1989, Carl retired and moved to Tucson, AZ, where he met and married fellow Iowa native, Ione Poole Mehlert, in 1990. For the next decade, the couple traveled extensively, visiting family and friends throughout the United States. In 2001, Carl and Ione returned to Iowa, living in Hiawatha, until moving to Village Ridge apartments in Marion in 2008.  

Carl was very good with computers, using the internet to keep in touch with family, friends and fellow seamen. He edited a newsletter for other Navy veterans, and, for many years, he and Ione created and produced a publication for home-bound senior citizens. He was an ardent genealogical researcher, collector of antique clocks, reader and traveler. Although we don’t know that they ever actually played bridge together, members of The Bridge Club were as dear as family to Carl (you know who you are. Love you!). 

Carl was a long-time member of St. Mark’s Lutheran Church and his faith was a quiet inspiration to all who knew him. He was invariably a gentleman but also a gentle man, with kindness, warmth and care for everyone he saw throughout the day, not just people he knew.  

Carl was predeceased by his parents; his sister, Doris Murdock; his brother, William C. Murdock; his first wife, Ferne Murdock, and his step-great-grandaughter, Natalie Trebon. 

He is survived by his second wife, Ione Murdock; sons Cal (Susan) Murdock of Des Moines and Doug (Kristi) Murdock of Toddville; stepsons Tom (Brenda) Mehlert of Phoenix, AZ, and Marty Mehlert of Muscatine; stepgranchildren Shawn Mehlert, Jennifer (Pat Ambrose) Mehlert and Isabelle(Enrique) Lopez; step great-grandchildren Alyson Howard and and Frances Lopez; nieces Kim (Mike) Burrell, Cindy (Mark) Roop, Jeanne (Arlyn) Tolzmann; nephew Kenn (Pat) Mingus; and many much-loved great-nieces and –nephews.

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