By the time he was 15, Mr. Murk decided to follow his intense interest in aircraft and began taking flying lessons at the Kenosha airport. Within a year, he had earned his student permit.

In 1945, he used his artistic "talents" in a rather unusual way. He and four of his buddies wanted to enlist in the military service, but all of them were underage and none of them could obtain parental consent. They decided to sign each other’s papers, but the official notary public seal presented a slight problem. Mr. Murk, who was always good with his hands, had a solution. He carved a seal backwards in hardwood and they "notarized" all five sets of papers. The U.S. Army discovered the forgery in exactly four days. All the parents were duly notified.

The scheme eventually worked out, in an indirect way. All parents agreed, after much deliberation, that if the boys wanted to serve their country enough to go to those lengths, they were in no position to deny their wishes. All the parents signed the consent papers.

Because of his interest in aircraft, it was only natural for Mr. Murk to enter some branch of the service that had to do with airplanes. He ended up choosing the paratroopers, and wound up with the occupation forces in Japan with the Eleventh Airborne Division. His art style was strongly influenced by the lasting impression the great beauty of that country made on him.

After he left the service, he started flying again and also enrolled at the University of Wisconsin with the aid of the GI Bill. His air training resulted in a private pilot’s certificate, but he decided not to continue his studies at the University.

Although his early years in the free-lancing market were difficult, he eventually established a foothold in the commercial art world with patience, persistence, and a generally easy going nature. He has illustrated wildlife, livestock, and children’s books, and has designed ads, brochures, and annual reports.

The Murks have another daughter, Laura, who is six years older than Nancy. Bob, their only son, is an accomplished hunter and Mr. Murk's favorite hunting partner. Mr. Murk works mostly in acrylics in his home studio. He belongs to Ducks Unlimited and the Safari Club International. His hobbies, quite naturally, are hunting, fishing, and collecting decoys.