John Joseph And Sheila Christine Walsh

JOHN JOSEPH WALSH (JACK) – 88 of Bogota and Highland Lakes, NJ passed away peacefully after a long illness on November 5, 2018.

Born in NY on January 18, 1930 to Catherine Walsh (nee Finn) and Thomas Walsh, Jack attended St. Raymond’s church and grammar school in the Bronx. Known then as “Zeke”, he graduated from Cardinal Hayes High School in 1948 and joined the military shortly thereafter.  Jack served in the US Navy as a turret gunner on the Liberator B24 bomber and as an aircraft engine mechanic assigned to the China service and then Korea when war broke out, until his honorable discharge in 1952.

Home from the war, he worked at Con Ed during the week and at dude ranches as a riding instructor and a cowboy with his trusty horse Soda Pop on the weekend.  He shared a lifelong love of horses, riding and country music with his beautiful wife Sheila. They met while working at the ranch and married in 1958. With a new wife and children on the horizon, Jack left his cowboy days and began his career with NY Bell, now Verizon as an installer, then Foreman and later Customer Service Manager, retiring in the 1980’s. Retirement did not suit him and he had a second over 10-year career as the Facility Manager at Warner Computer Co. Finally retired, Jack and Sheila traveled the country in their RV with their beloved dog Bridey for many years. When not on the road, he enjoyed summers at their house in Highland Lakes with their wonderful neighbors, friends and his late brother in law Norman Murphy.  Jack remained an avid outdoorsman, hunter and skeet shooter and he trained hunting dogs with nationally renowned trainer Ed Monte including his own award winning Brittnay Spaniel.

Jack was a founding member of the Bogota Swim Club. He belonged to the American Legion and was a life member and Commander of the Bogota VFW and served as Quarter Master and Chief of Staff for VFW District 2. He served for 19 years on the Bogota Zoning Board of Adjustment and was a parishioner at St. Joseph’s RC church for almost 60 years.

Devoted husband of the late Sheila Christine Walsh (nee Murphy). Beloved father of Kathleen Walsh of Kearny and Thomas Walsh and his fiancé Michele Kelso of Bogota. He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Mary Walsh and Margaret McWade.

Visiting is Friday 2pm-4pm and 7pm-9pm Petrik Funeral Home 140 Palisade Avenue Bogota NJ.  Funeral mass Saturday 9:30am St. Joseph’s RC Church 115 East Fort Lee Road. Interment George Washington Cemetery, Paramus.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to The Arc of Bergen and Passaic Counties 223 Moore Street Hackensack, NJ 07601.

In Memory of SHEILA CHRISTINE WALSH 1921-2013 of Bogota and Highland Lakes NJ.   Sheila was born in London of Irish parents William Bernard Murphy and Ann Christine Murphy (nee Berkery) and immigrated to America at age 2.  She graduated from Cliffside Park High School and attended business school at night while working in NYC as an office Manager at an engineering firm and then at the Morton Salt Company as a Bookkeeper while attending Columbia University at night studying art and literature.

Sheila loved horses and spent the weekends at a dude ranch working as the bookkeeper in between trail riding and barrel racing. Here she met the handsome cowboy Jack Walsh who became her husband in 1958.  Children followed and she traded ranch life for home and community life and never looked back.

Sheila joined the Ladies Auxiliary of the Bogota VFW serving as local President and then District 2 President for which she was named the NJ Outstanding President.  Many remember the VFW shows and skits she directed throughout the years.

A lifelong advocate for public education and champion of students and teachers, Sheila served on the Bogota Board of Education for 13 years with 3 years as Board President. She was a Literacy Volunteer tutoring reading and English as a second language and was on the Juvenile Conference Committee for nine years with 4 as Chair and 3 as Secretary. She was a long term member of the Bogota Women’s Club where she held positions as President and Treasurer.

Sheila was the Chair of Bogota’s July 4th Celebration Committee and served on both the 75th and 100th anniversary committees for the Borough. She wrote and directed the reenactment of Bogota’s founding for the 100th Celebration. She was a natural organizer and was always spearheading a project or fundraiser.

A talented seamstress, making all her own clothes as well as many of the curtains and other linens in the house, she also loved to craft and led many charity projects involving crafting. She volunteered at The Arc’s gift shop, where she also donated handmade items. She was named Volunteer of the Year for The Arc in 2001. She handcrafted replicas of women’s fashion over the years and traveled around presenting a show demonstrating the interaction between the clothing and the status of women in each era. Proceeds were donated to The Arc. She was known for her baking of delicious desserts.

In 1990 Sheila was named Legislative District 38 Volunteer of the Year. She was a regular writer of letters to her elected officials and to the editorial pages of the newspaper on issues she felt needed attention. She received the Bogota Citizen of the Year award in 2002.

Sheila took a hiatus from business while raising her children and then went back to work as the Office Manager for Abby Chiropractic with Dr. Golden until she retired.  After retirement she traveled the country with her husband Jack in their RV on trips she planned down to the smallest detail. They visited rodeos and country music festivals and saw the magnificent sights of America.

Sheila treasured her friends from Bogota especially her “partner in crime” Rosemary Gasiewicz. She loved her summers at Highland Lakes and time there with her brother Norman and the deck parties with wonderful neighbors and friends. She was passionate about her Murphy roots and with her cherished English cousin Brenda, researched and wrote a book on the Murphy family.

Sheila was the loving wife of the late John Walsh, beloved mother of Kathleen Walsh and Thomas Walsh (fiancé Michele) and all the children who knew her as their second mother. Proud Aunt of Barbara Latimer (Rob) and Ken Murphy (Carol) and their children.  Devoted sister to the late Desmond (Ceil) and Norman (Carol) Murphy. We love and miss you Mom, in our hearts forever.