Jim Walsh

Heaven had a reunion on the afternoon of Friday, January 24, 2025. Patrick “Jim” Walsh, age 80 of Marshalltown, passed away peacefully at the Iowa Veteran’s Home in Marshalltown rejoining his wife, Linda.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Monday, February 10, 2025 beginning at 10:30 A.M. at St. Francis of Assisi Parish: St. Henry Church in Marshalltown. A visitation for family and friends will be held one hour prior to services. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family for a later designation. For additional information or to send a condolence to the family please visit www.mitchellfh.com or call 641-844-1234.

Patrick James Walsh was born August 20, 1944 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He was the second of eight children born to Paul and Una (Grimm) Walsh. Jim grew up in the Cedar Rapids area and would later graduate from St. Patrick High School in Cedar Rapids as part of the Class of 1962. He attended classes at AIB in Des Moines for post-secondary education.

Jim enlisted in the United State Army where he was stationed in Domincan Republic from the years 1965-1967. Following his service, he was honorably discharged and returned home. On a blind date, he met the love of his life, Linda Sue Appelgate. It was a love at first sight and they fell head over heels being united in marriage on July 3, 1971 at the St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Cedar Rapids. They made their home together in the early years of their marriage in Toledo, Iowa. They had one son, Ryan. While Ryan was in his younger years, they moved to Marshalltown once Jim began work for Lennox in 1980. He spent 27 years working as a fork lift operator until the time of his retirement in 2007. In the meantime, he filled up his days spending time with Linda, his son, and his grandchildren. He was so excited to be a grandpa and eventually great-grandpa. He and Linda began snow birding in Florida over the winters and this eventually turned to them living down there full time for five years before their return home to Marshalltown. They continued to make many happy memories together at the Iowa Veteran’s Home until Linda’s passing in May 2024.

Additionally in free time, Jim enjoyed following sports, particularly the Iowa Hawkeyes and the Chicago Cubs. He had the personality where he could be hard headed for the right reasons as well as the knack to be able to talk to anybody that he ran into. He loved his music and being the prankster. He was the best friend anybody could have and would constantly staying in touch including friends formed in his childhood in Cedar Rapids. Of all things, Jim was a proud family man.

Those left to remember and cherish his memory are his son, Ryan (Kelli) Walsh; his grandchildren, Emily Paul, Jacob (Brittany) Paul, Amy Paul, Ashley (Kirby) Thiessen, Hayden Walsh and Dillon Walsh; 11 great-grandchildren and one on the way; his siblings, Rita Fry, Mary (Dick) Jasa, Joe (Debbie) Walsh, John (Diane) Walsh, Kay (Terry) Johnson and Joyce (Dennis) Kowalski. Additionally, he is survived by his brother-in-law, Tom (Teresa) Appelgate and sister-in-law, Sharlene Appelgate and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He is preceded in death by his wife, Linda; his parents, Paul and Una Walsh; his mother and father-in-law, Dwight (Shirley) Appelgate; his brother Steve Walsh; and brother-in-law, Denny Appelgate.