Edmund "Ed" Murken

Memorial services for Edmund Paul Murken of Glenwood, will be Thursday, July 6, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Glenwood Lutheran Church in Glenwood, with Reverend Krista Lee officiating. A visitation will be on Wednesday, July 5, from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Starbuck Funeral Home in Starbuck, and one hour prior to service at the church on Thursday. Burial will be at Glenwood Cemetery in Glenwood.

Edmund Paul Murken, was born February 25, 1947, in Iowa, He was adopted as an infant by Herbert and Eva Eleanor (Youll) Murken.  When Ed was 4 years old, he moved with his family to a farm near Canby, Minnesota.  Ed received his education in Canby, graduating with the Canby High School class of 1964. After graduation, he went on to Canby Vo-Tech and earned a two-year degree in Auto Mechanics. While working as a farmhard, he was introduced to Kathleen Ann Schmitz by her cousin; a time later, they would meet again in Alexandria, and begin dating. Ed and Kathy were united in marriage on October 31, 1970.  To this union, four children were born.  They made their home in several locations, including: Iowa, Arkansas, and Kansas, before returning to Minnesota.  Ed held various jobs, most notably as a long-haul semi driver, most recently working with Pfeninger Trucking in Villard, retiring when he was 62.   

Ed loved his motorcycle, even taking a trip with Kathy to Branson.  Tinkering on small engines, camping with family and friends, mowing the lawn regularly, and occasionally building a few campers were all hobbies he enjoyed.  Retirement never slowed him down; city-wide clean-up events like those found in Pennock would often find him hauling home “treasures” which he would fix up and get back into working order. Ed’s greatest enjoyment during his retirement would come from his love of fishing and spending time with his friends and family.

Ed died at the St Cloud Hospital in St. Cloud, Minnesota, on Thursday, June 29, 2023. He was 76 years old.

He is survived by his wife Kathy of Glenwood;  three children: Michael (Denise) Murken of Starbuck, Kristine (Wade) DePestel of Canby, and Nathaniel Murken of Belgrade; 12 grandchildren: Cody (Maria Jackson) Murken of Starbuck, Elizabeth Murken of Starbuck, Leslie Murken of Starbuck, Kyla (Patrick) Koehl of Hancock, Lauri (Matthew) Hennes of Kandiyohi, Jordan DePestel, Reghan DePestel, and Ella DePestel, all of Canby, Haley Murken, Kaley Murken, Ashley Murken, and Khloe Murken, all of Glenwood; four great-grandchildren: Caiden, Cameron, and Grayson Koehl and Oliver Hennes; and one sister, Annette Munoz of Arizona.

He is preceded in death by his son, Christopher, at birth; parents: Herb and Eleanor Murken; parents-in-law: Verney and Louise Schmitz; brothers-in-law: Ronnie Schmitz, Alvin Schmitz, and Don Munoz; and sisters-in-law: Donna (Richard) Weber and Bernice Schmitz.

Family requests that memorials be made to the Children's Hospitals of Minnesota.  Giving to Children’s Minnesota | Children's Minnesota (childrensmn.org)

Starbuck Funeral Home is in care of the arrangements for Ed.