John Walsh, 12 Jan 1923 - 3 Feb 2008

WALSH, KELLY, COSTELLO, VALLADOLID, WIESE, AHRAZEM, BARRON, STEENHUYSE

Posted By: Stephen D. Williams (email)
Date: 2/13/2008 at 12:58:38

John Walsh, 84

Funeral services and a Mass of Christian burial for John T. Walsh, 84, Bettendorf, will be held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 7, at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport. He died Saturday, Feb. 3, 2008, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf.

Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, with military services by American Legion Post 26.

Memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Church, Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House or to a favorite charity.

Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, was in charge of arrangements. Online condolences may be left at www.hmdfuneralhome.com.

John Thomas Walsh was born July 12, 1923, in rural Iowa County, the son of M. Frank and Kathryn M. (Kelly) Walsh. He attended country schools through the eighth grade and graduated from Williamsburg High School. After attending St. Ambrose College, Davenport, he went on to receive a bachelor of science degree in commerce from the University of Iowa, Iowa City, in May 1948. While at the University of Iowa, he belonged to Phi Kappa Theta fraternity.

During World War II, he proudly served in the U.S. Navy as a radio operator stationed on Majuro in the Marshall Islands.

He married Jeanne D. Costello June 30, 1948, at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Davenport. He was first employed at Davenport Bank and Trust Company, then worked for 34 years as a contractor with S.M. Costello Painting Company. After retiring from the contracting business, he was employed by the American Dairy Association as supervisor of point of purchase advertising for the state of Iowa and northwestern Illinois.

He was especially fond of reminiscing about life on the farm. His hobbies included travel, hunting, crossword puzzles, poetry, sports and a good game of bridge. He was a member of the Davenport Outing Club and past member of the Davenport Country Club.

Active in community service, he belonged to the American Legion and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Loras Council 532 and the Loras General Assembly, Fourth Degree. He served on the board of directors and as treasurer of the Davenport Junior Chamber of Commerce and also belonged to the Quad-City Builders’ Club and the Davenport Chamber of Commerce. As a member of the Painting and Decorating Contractors of America (PDCA), he served as local and state president and as a national delegate.

While a management trustee for the Painters’ Pension and Health Fund, he was instrumental in merging the pension fund with the national health and retirement fund. He also served on the Diocesan Council for the Holy Childhood and on parish councils at Holy Family and St. Anthony’s Catholic churches. He volunteered for many summers as a softball coach for the Holy Family and Assumption High School girls’ park board leagues. He also did volunteer work for CASI, the Kahl Home and St. Anthony’s Care and Share, in addition to serving many years as coordinator for the eucharistic ministers of the Genesis Health Care System.

He considered himself fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family and wished to thank all those who gave him support through his extended illness. He also asked to be remembered in your prayers.

Walsh is survived by his wife; two daughters, Kathy Walsh and husband Manuel Valladolid, Albacete, Spain, and Mary Walsh Wiese and husband Randy Wiese, Milan, Ill.; granddaughters, Rachel Valladolid, Durham, N.C., and Ana Valladolid and husband Oussama Ahrazem, Albacete, Spain; great-granddaughter, Ines Ahrazem; sisters and their husbands, Rita and Bill Barron and Helen and Ray Van Steenhuyse, all Vinton, and numerous and well-loved nieces and nephews.

Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport
Cedar Rapids Gazette, 6 Feb 2008, pg 4b
Williamsburg Journal Tribune, 7 Feb 2008, pg 11