House Speaker Nancy Pelosi , who led a bipartisan delegation to the funeral , remembered her long-time ally . `` Those who served with him were honored to call him a colleague , '' Pelosi said . `` There were those of us who were privileged to call him friend . '' President Clinton and Defense Secretary Robert Gates were among those who filled Westmont Presbyterian Church in Johnstown , Pennsylvania , for the funeral . Murtha 's daughter , Donna , recalled his love of nature and how he enjoyed feeding wild birds , but not squirrels that raided the birdseed . `` He loved to outwit the squirrels , '' Donna Murtha said , her voice breaking at times . `` He could not stand it if they were outwitting him . '' Others recalled Murtha 's dedication to public service . `` Today there is great comfort in the memory of John P. Murtha 's life , '' said the Rev. Douglas Stevens , pastor of Westmont Presbyterian . `` He made a difference . '' Murtha underwent scheduled laparoscopic surgery to remove his gall bladder January 28 at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda ,
-LRB- CNN -RRB- -- Pennsylvania and the nation said goodbye Tuesday to John P. Murtha , politician , warrior , father , friend , gentleman . Speakers at the funeral for the Democratic congressman recalled a man skilled in the ways of Washington but , more importantly , a public servant who never forgot why he was elected 17 times to represent Pennsylvania 's 12th district . `` Jack Murtha never lost sight of God 's purpose in the law , '' said the Rev. William George , president of the Georgetown Preparatory School in Washington . `` Lawmaking should be sacred work , and Jack knew that . '' Murtha , 77 , died February 8 of complications from gall bladder surgery . A former Marine colonel and twice-wounded Vietnam War veteran , Murtha earned a reputation as one of Congress 's loudest anti-war voices . He initially supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq , but he stunned much of Washington when he called for a swift U.S. pullout in November 2005 . `` U.S. and coalition troops have done all they can , '' Murtha said . `` It 's time for a change in direction . ''