Myrna B. Murken

Myrna B. Murken, age 98, passed away on the morning of Thursday, February 25, 2021, at Eden Meadows. She was born to the late Frederick and Ingrid (Holleschau) Brechbiel on November 19, 1922, in Iowa Falls, IA. Myrna grew up and graduated high school in Yale, IA.
She attended Simpson College in Indianola, IA, and then graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls, IA.
Myrna began her career writing for local Iowa community newspapers, but eventually took up teaching English and Drama at various high schools including Twenty-Nine Palms, California, Toledo, Eldora, Grinnell, and Harlan, IA.
Myrna married Byron Murken in 1951, later divorcing in 1974. Moving to the Twin Cities in 1975 she pursued her certification in Transactional Analysis and later obtained her Master of Arts Degree in 1980 from St. Mary’s College in Winona, MN. She developed a successful Psychotherapy practice in the Twin Cities offering counseling, group therapy, and seminars directed towards singles and newly divorced people. She was an active member of Christ Church Lutheran in Minneapolis. In 2002, Myrna returned to Oshkosh to be closer to her children and grandchildren.
She loved downhill skiing in earlier years and was an avid seamstress and knitter. Myrna enjoyed the performing arts, theater and from an early age was a voracious reader of literature. She relished attending her grandkids’ many concerts and performances, other productions, and many shows at the Guthrie. Myrna was a part of numerous women’s organizations, troop leader for the Girl Scouts, published a singles directory, “The Grapevine” and developed a single’s traveling club.
Myrna is survived by her daughter Mary Murken (Dan Kussmann); grandchildren Nathaniel (Grace Hileman) Murken, Anastasia (Matthew) Coppola, Will Poppen, Ross (Melissa) Kussmann, Brennann (Kalynn) Kussmann; and great-grandchildren Taylor, Skylar, Myla, and Maci; and many nieces and nephews.
Along with her parents, Myrna was preceded in death by her son Todd Murken and infant son Timothy Murken; infant daughter Elizabeth Murken; and sister June (Brechbiel) Waters.
A service will be held on Monday, March 1st at 11 AM at First English Lutheran Church in Oshkosh. Following COVID safety protocols, a visitation will take place at 10 AM until the time of the service. Burial and a celebration of life will be held at a later date.
Myrna’s family wishes to extend a special thank you to the staff at Miravida Living for the loving care and support given to her and her family during her past years at Carmel Residence, Gabriel’s Villa and Eden Meadows.