Obituary

John R. Walsh, age 88 years, died October 27, 2019, in Goodyear, AZ. He was born April 28, 1931, in Chicago, IL, to Jack and Phyllis (Esposito) Walsh. He grew up in Lisle, IL and lived on a street surrounded by the homes of his Italian grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins. He considered many of his cousins among his best friends. He graduated from Downers Grove Central High School. After graduation, he attended North Central College and Illinois Benedictine College and played semi-professional football with the Elmhurst Travelers. He would say he wasn’t good, but he was fast and wiry!

John enlisted in the US Air Force and worked as an Aircraft Electrician. An Atomic Veteran, he was among the Airmen who witnessed the Atomic Bomb testing in the Pacific Island theatre and worked on aircraft that flew in the nuclear zone.

John was an excellent salesman. He could sell anything, from tiny brackets to large industrial equipment. He had a great sense of humor and a personality that immediately put others at ease. He was genuinely interested in everyone he met, radiating warmth and caring. He lived in the PebbleCreek community in Goodyear, AZ for 22 years and was loved by many friends as well as his family. They kept track of his humorous sayings, regaling him with “Johnny Walsh-isms” on his last birthday. Sayings like, “I’m in good shape for the shape I’m in,” “Here’s looking up your old address,” and “Who’s the old guy in the mirror?” will fondly be remembered by all who knew John.

John’s grandsons affectionately called him “Padrino”. An excellent carpenter and a handyman that could fix anything, John would spend many hours with the boys, building forts in the backyard and doing other special projects for them. He enjoyed attending their school events from elementary school through college. They would often remark that everyone wished they had a Padrino!

John is survived by Yvonne Kamholz Walsh, his wife of 47 years; son, Scott Walsh; daughters, Heather Walsh Krueger and Beth Jacobs (Steve) Speckhard; brother, Larry Froehlich; grandsons, Jacob and Garrit Speckhard; niece Laurice (Don) Souron; and great-nieces Laural and Taylor Hite.

As Johnny Walsh used to say, “Don’t worry, nothin’s gonna be alright!”