Michael J. Walsh, Angela M. Walsh and Jessica M. Walsh died tragically in a car accident on Tuesday, July 18, 2023. A Rosary will be prayed at 9:50 AM followed by the Funeral Mass at 10:30 AM on Friday, August 4, 2023 at Christ the King Catholic Church, 5306 Main St, McFarland, WI 53558. Private family burial will happen at a later date. In lieu of flowers, please donate to your local St. Vincent DePaul Society or more specifically the St. Vincent DePaul Society in Nashville, Indiana. Mike and Angela were avid volunteers for St. Vincent DePaul.
Mike Walsh was born to January, 9, 1964, to Thomas and Barbara Walsh in Joliet. He was married to the love of his life, Angela Walsh (nee Hauser), and they had a son, Derick Walsh and a daughter, Jessica Walsh. Mike is survived by his son, Derick, his mother and father, Thomas Walsh and Barbara Walsh of McFarland, WI, brother Brian (Tammie) Walsh, sisters Susan (Steve) Leggero and Janice (Christopher) Hurley. Mike is also survived by multiple nieces and nephews. He is also survived by the Hauser family mother, father, sister, and brother in laws.
Michael is preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Raymond and Alida Zupancic, and his paternal grandparents, John and Mildred Walsh.
Mike loved to play his drums, dabble in his bass, electric and acoustic guitars, loved playing baseball in high school, getting invited to tryouts for the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was improving his golf game. He graduated from Minooka High School in Minooka, IL, where he and his siblings were raised. He was a graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering. He used his education and skills to work for multiple companies in Iowa, Indiana, and Arizona as an engineer and later as a director. He always missed being an engineer as he was a brilliant engineer and loved being in the trenches and doing the hard work. His work ethic was second to none, even going as far as reading engineering books on fishing trips out in the middle of the lake. He retired this past December and was starting to live his best life with his retirement back in Indiana at their Lake House.
Mike met and fell in love with Angela Hauser at Iowa State where they both were enrolled. They married August 26, 1989, and were about to celebrate their 34th anniversary. They raised two beautiful children and had many trips and adventures together including seeing Ireland and taking several different cruises.
Mike will be remembered by many for his kindness, his smile, his willingness to always help all he knew and his wonderful sense of humor. He was incapable of saying a bad word about anyone. He was extremely tough and was always able to push through adversity but would never tell anyone as he hated to put his problems on others. He and his wife volunteered at Fisher’s High School for the marching band where his son and daughter marched or were in the guard. He touched so many lives that many people will think of Mike fondly for many, many years to come. He taught so many things to so many people.
Angela Walsh was born September 20, 1966 in Denison, Iowa to Richard and Mavis Hauser. Angela was always an outstanding student and attended Iowa State University, which is where she met her husband Michael Walsh during her sophomore year. She graduated from college and was married in 1989. Angela spent the majority of her life being a full-time loving mother to her 2 children, Derick and Jessica, and a committed wife to her husband Mike. Angela was a beautiful person inside and out and her superpower was that she had a gift of making you feel like you were special and important as she always made time for you. She didn’t just listen; she would hear you. This mothering spirit extended to anyone she encountered who was struggling, and she wouldn’t sit idly by, but would take-charge and had the organizational skills and tenacity to see difficult problems through, and the compassion to remember to call and check-in often. She had many friends as she was able to make you feel like you had been friends for way longer than you knew her. She was a Financial Accounts Manager and Transportation Accounts Manager. Angela had the true heart of a servant which led her to volunteer at St. Vincent DePaul in Nashville, Indiana, and Holy Spirit of Geist in Fishers, Indiana. She loved the elderly, the poor, and those who were homeless or struggling with mental health issues and addiction. Angela was a life-long learner who loved nature, and felt connected to her son Derick when hiking. Angela enjoyed music, had a beautiful voice, and she liked to sing. Angela was honest, kind, generous, and it was impossible to outgive her. Angela loved big, gave the very best hugs, and we will all remember fondly how she laughed easily and with great joy. Angela is survived by her son Derick, her parents Richard and Mavis Hauser, her brother Tracy Hauser, and sister Tonya Belgum.
Jessica M. Walsh was born September 16, 1996 in Des Moines Iowa to Mike and Angela (Hauser) Walsh. She was a graduate of Fishers High School, Ball State University with her Bachelor’s degree, in Meteorology with a minor in Astro Physics and she worked for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Camera Program through NASA at Arizona State University. She was part of the PHD program in the department of Astronomy and Planetary Science through Northern Arizona University.
Jessie was carrying on lunar mountain research from her previous job that carried over to her PHD. She was wrapping up a paper on her lunar work and findings. Jessie was going to transition to Martian research when completing her lunar work. She was in the middle of getting Martian meteorite samples. Jessica was working on the vision project (visible and infrared observation system). Her name is on a plaque regarding this project and going to Mars in future Martian missions.
She had a zest for life, including camping, hiking, snowboarding and more. One of her favorite hobbies was star gazing. She loved Dungeons and Dragons. She loved animals and loved her girl, Galaxy. She had the most beautiful personality, the greatest smile, and the sweetest heart. She is survived by her brother, Derick Walsh, aunts uncles and extended family.
As we all mourn her loss, we also remember to celebrate all of Jessica's accomplishments and the things that made her truly unique and special. Jessica viewed life not as a glass half full or half empty, but rather as an incredible adventure; too special and grand to be limited by any single container. She enjoyed the little things such as playing with her dog Galaxy, reading a good book, and watching her garden grow. Jess had the wonderful ability to make even the most mundane situations become great occasions with her enchanting sense of imagination, and often used this gift to host and participate in game nights with her dearest friends. She had the unique ability to make friends with people of all walks of life, and was a role model of inclusion and integrity. Her genuine and light hearted personality was magnetic, and even in death will continue to inspire joy and gratitude for countless people.