Murty Patrick Blocker

Murty P. Blocker, 92, of Topeka, died December 2, 2018 at Stormont Vail Hospital. He was born in Nemaha County, Kansas on November 22, 1926 the son of Clemens and Mary (Levings) Blocker. He served in the United States Army from February 8, 1945 to March 20, 1946.  He attained the rank of Sergeant and was an Assistant Squad Leader stationed in Japan.  He enlisted in the Army on March 21, 1946 and served as a Duty NCO attaining the rank of Staff Sergeant.  He was stationed at Camp Zama, Japan, at the 4th Replacement Depot.  He supervised the processing of troops being shipped back to the States.  During his service, the Depot was awarded the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque and also a star to the Meritorious Service Unit Plaque for superior performance of duty during which on September 12, 1946, 12,167 incoming and outgoing troops were cleared from the Depot.  He was honorably discharged on August 4, 1947. After his discharge, he returned home to Nemaha County and worked for Harry (Jack) Henry feeding cattle.  He moved to Topeka in 1949.  In 1954 he worked for Douglas Brothers General Contractors.  In the 1960’s he worked for Hankamer Excavating and Asphalt.  His crew was the first to pave K-4 Highway from Highway 24 to Meriden.  Then in 1970 he began working for LRM Industries, in Lawrence as manager of the Asphalt Operation.  He retired from there in 2002. He was a member of Mater Dei Holy Name Catholic Church where he served as Head Usher for over 35 years.  He was a member of the American Legion Post #400 in Topeka.  He was an avid upland game hunter. He married Dorothy Mick in Tipton, Kansas on January 5, 1952, she predeceased him in 1993.  He married Susan Harper on November 9, 2002, she survives.  He is also survived by two sons, Kelvin and John (Chris) Blocker, and four daughters, Myra Lake, Patricia Ward, Martha Blocker and Ellen Blocker, a son-in-law, Jeffrey Bell, a brother Regis Blocker of Missouri, and sister, Joan Rezac of Emmett, nine grandchildren, twelve great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Thomas and Gerald Blocker and a daughter, Sheila Bell.  He was also preceded in death by his siblings, Angela, Joseph, Mary Margaret, Edward, Patricia, Kevin, Felicia, and James. Murty will lie in state at Mater Dei Holy Name Church, 1114 West Tenth on Thursday where the family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m. and a Rosary will be prayed at 6:00 p.m.  Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday at the church at 10:00 a.m.  Interment with military honors will follow in Mt. Calvary Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made in his memory to Helping Hands Humane Society, or Kansas Dept. of Wildlife Parks and Tourism to benefit the Glen Elder Wildlife Fund and sent in care of Brennan-Mathena Funeral Home, 800 SW 6th Ave., Topeka, Kansas 66603. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.brennanmathenafh.com.