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As received from the Erickson Crowley Peterson Funeral Home:
Lt . Co. A.J. “Andy” Murtagh (RCAF RTED)
Andy Murtagh of Rabbit Bay, Age 92, passed away at Omega House in Houghton on August 17, 2022. He is predeceased by his wife, and daughters Aundrea and Mary Jane.
Andy was born in Timmons, Ontario to Andrew Patrick and Lillian, and started his education at Regi in Kingston, Ontario. As a young man, he entered a mining engineering program at Michigan Tech, where he met the love of his life, Marilyn (Hakala). After a few years, Andy left engineering to train in Policing at Michigan State (including work as a campus policeman). With this experience, he returned to Canada and joined the Canadian Air Force.
Andy excelled in his chosen field and quickly moved through the ranks. He was tasked with studying a new sentry dog program in Metz, France; this program was documented with his friend (RCAF RETD) Maj. Wayne Kendall, in a book “The History of the RCAF Sentry Dog Program 1963 – 1972”. Andy was an avid reader, especially military history.
After retirement, Andy and Marilyn moved back home to Copper Country where he then ran a successful security business in the UP for another 10 years.
A man of many talents, he would probably be most remembered as a story-teller. With a formidable memory and an interesting life, he would recount the many adventures and misadventures of a full life.
Later in life he felt honoured to be accepted as an affiliate member of the Marine Corps League.
An active community volunteer, Rotarian, Andy was keenly interested in helping the less fortunate.
There will be an irish style wake at his home at 44542 Rabbit Bay road on Tuesday August 23, 2022 @ 5pm with a beach fire & light refreshments. Please bring a camp chair if you would like to have a final toast to “The Colonel”.
