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tree
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Obituary for Robert J. Walsh
Robert J. Walsh of Oak Park (aka Bob, Grumpy, Boppa) passed away peacefully at home on July 28, age 92, surrounded by his beloved family who were his deepest source of joy and pride. He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Marietta nee Battaglia; cherished father of the late Robert (James Jajkowski), Julie (Charles) Fabrizius, Marie (Kevin) White, Therese Cormack, and Elizabeth (Kirk Sweeney); proud grandfather of Luke (fiancee Kristen Contos) and Brian Fabrizius, Aidan and Hannah Walsh, Rebecca and Melissa Cormack, and Sean White; step grandfather of Anna Sweeney; devoted brother of the late Mary Jean (late Robert) Connelly and brother-in-law of the late Vincent (Maureen) Battaglia; dear uncle to many nieces and nephews.
Born March 3, 1929 to Luke and Eleanor (nee Sharkey) on Chicago’s west side, Bob attended Resurrection grammar school, St. Ignatius High School and DePaul University. After a quarter century as an investment analyst, he and Marietta started their second chapter by opening Logos Bookstore of Oak Park. The Christian bookstore flourished for the next quarter century and became a hub for family, friends, and community members to shop, work, and—most importantly—connect.
An active man of many tastes and talents, Bob loved golf, tennis, raquetball, "quiet time" in the morning, playing the piano and singing, butter pecan ice cream, apples and peanut butter, workouts at the Y, his Catholic faith, crossword puzzles, CNN, fixing anything (especially with duct tape), riding his John Deere mower at his treasured Apple Canyon Lake house (“Nothing runs like a Deere”), soaking in the sun anywhere but especially floating on a raft at Apple, building huge bonfires, playing pool, going to the movies, and wintering in Naples, Florida. He was a longtime friend of Bill W.
In 1976, Bob and Marietta helped found the St. Giles Family Mass Community. The family mass was a huge part of his life until the very end. He was a proud Rotarian, mentored inner city students, and advocated for an incarcerated man who became a friend. He was a welcome face at any occasion and will be sincerely missed by many.
Visitation Saturday July 31, from 8:45 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. in the courtyard of St. Giles Church, 1045 Columbian Avenue Oak Park. Mass will begin at 10 a.m. in the Church. Interment is private. In lieu of flowers, donations to Beyond Hunger (gobeyondhunger.org) or HONDURAS EDUCATIONAL DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANCE CORP (hedac.org) are appreciated.
The funeral mass will be livestreamed at : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFfT_eEC4PI
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Previous Events
Visitation
Saturday
31
Jul
8:45 AM
- 9:45 AM
St. Giles Church
1045 Columbian Ave.
Oak Park, IL 60302
Visitation will be held in the courtyard of St. Giles Church
Funeral Mass
Saturday
31
Jul
10:00 AM
- 11:00 AM
Memorial Contribution
Honduras Educational Development Assistance Corp.
PO Box 613
Oak Lawn, IL 60454-0613
Oak Lawn, IL 60454-0613
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