Thomas H. Walsh

ST. LOUIS - Thomas H. Walsh, 69, of St. Louis, formerly of Monticello, IL, died at noon Thursday (Nov. 18, 2010) at Barnes-Jewish Medical Center, St. Louis, MO, from complications following a second bone marrow transplant for leukemia. A funeral mass will be held at 10 a.m. Monday, Nov. 22nd at St. Josephs Catholic Church, Ivesdale, IL with Father Tom Donovan officiating. Burial will follow in St. Josephs Cemetery, Ivesdale. Visitation will begin at 4:00 p.m.to 6:00 p.m. Sunday at Mackey-Wright Funeral Home, 215 E. Washington St., Monticello, IL (217-762-2126). Mr. Walsh was born March 12, 1941, in Decatur, IL, a son of Vincent T. and Catherine A. "Kaley" Delaney Walsh. He married Charleen Zmija August 5, 1972. She resides in St. Louis. Also surviving are two daughters, Dr. Catherine Ann Walsh of Albuquerque, NM and Colleen Walsh Lang of St. Louis. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Carey Marie Walsh, on Nov. 11, 2010; and his sister, Mary A. Walsh, in 1989. Mr. Walsh attended Monticello schools and graduated from the University of Notre Dame in 1963. He served as a Communications Officer aboard the USS Pollux in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War (1963-1968) and later did graduate studies in agriculture at the University of Illinois where he met his wife Charleen Zmija. They later became members of the University of Illinois Presidents Council. He was a third generation farmer and landowner in the Ivesdale and Monticello areas. He was a member of the Piatt County Farm Bureau and served as a commissioner for the Kankakee Drainage District for many years. Mr. Walsh, former president for Tatman Village, Monticello, IL, served on the board of directors for more than 30 years, since before it opened in 1980. He also served on the Kirby Hospital board since 1982 and worked on plans for the new hospital that broke ground recently. He also served as a member of the First Mid-Illinois Bank and Trust Advisory Board since 1973. He was a former president of the Monticello Rotary Club and a Fourth Degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus. Mr. and Mrs. Walsh were also active members of St. Philomena Catholic Church, Monticello, IL. He maintained his involvement with Tatman Village, Kirby Hospital, and the Monticello Rotary Club after retiring to St. Louis and throughout his illness. He served as a member of the Board for Brehm Preparatory School, Carbondale, IL and treasurer of The Brehm School Foundation. Mr. Walsh enjoyed traveling with his wife throughout their marriage, including trips to Japan, China, Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Costa Rica, Alaska, and throughout the continental US. He took great pleasure working on the farm, sharing coffee with friends, and taking pride in the accomplishments of his daughters. Mr. Walsh was a loving father, a loyal husband, a faithful friend, and a dedicated member of the Monticello community.
Memorials may be made to The Brehm School Foundation (618-457-0371 or rwilliams@brehm.org)

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