John Thomas Walsh, 12 Jul 1923 - 07 Feb 2008

WALSH, KELLY, COSTELLO, BARRON, VAN STEENHUYSE

Posted By: Netha M Meyer (email)
Date: 2/24/2008 at 19:20:41

John T. Walsh, 84, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2008, at Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House, Bettendorf. Funeral services and a Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. Thursday, February 7th, 2008 at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church, Davenport. Burial will be at Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport, with military services conducted by American Legion Post # 26. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport, where the family invites you to join them in a Prayer Service at 4 p.m. to begin visitation. Memorials may be made to St. Anthony’s Church, Clarissa C. Cook Hospice House or to a favorite charity.
John Thomas Walsh was born in rural Iowa County, Iowa on July 12, 1923, 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, he went on to receive a Bachelor of Science Degree in Commerce from the University of Iowa in May of 1948. While at Iowa, he belonged to Phi Kappa Theta Fraternity.
During World War II, Mr. Walsh proudly served in the US Navy as a radio
operator stationed on Majuro in the Marshall Islands. He was united in marriage to Jeanne D. Costello on June 30, 1948 at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport. John was first employed at Davenport Bank and Trust Co. and then worked for 34 years as a contractor with S.M. Costello Painting Co. After his retirement 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.
John 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, John belonged to the American Legion and was also a member of the Knights of Columbus Loras Council, #532 and the Loras General Assembly, 4th Degree. He served on the Board of Directors and as treasurer of the Davenport Junior Chamber of Commerce, also belonging 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. John 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.
Survivors include his wife, Jeanne, daughters Kathy (Manuel Valladolid) Walsh of Albacete, Spain and Mary (Randy) Walsh Wiese of Milan, Illinois; granddaughters Rachel Valladolid of Durham N.C. and Ana Valladolid (Oussama Ahrazem) of Albacete, Spain; and great granddaughter Ines Ahrazem. Other family members include his sisters, Mrs. Rita (Bill) Barron and Mrs. Helen (Ray) Van Steenhuyse, both of Vinton, Iowa, along with numerous and well-loved nieces and nephews.
Mr. Walsh considered himself fortunate to have such wonderful friends and family and wished to thank all those who gave him support throughout his extended illness. He also asked to be remembered in your prayers.

Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport
Williamsburg Journal Tribune 07 Feb 2008, pg 11