FARMER CITY — Joseph W. “Joe” Walsh, 71, Farmer City, died at 10:09 p.m. Wednesday (Oct. 5, 2011) at Carle Foundation Hospital, Urbana, following a courageous battle with ALS (Lou Gehrig’s disease).

His funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Sunday at Calvert-Belangee-Bruce Funeral Home, Farmer City. The Rev. Mike Jenkins will officiate. Burial will be in Campground Cemetery, Farmer City. Visitation will be from 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) or the First Baptist Church of Farmer City. 

Joe was born Aug. 27, 1940, in Springfield, son of Robert E. and Elizabeth Reeser Walsh. He married Pat Hurley on July 27, 1967, in Farmer City, they were married 26 years. He married Paula Palivos on April 4, 2011, in Farmer City, they shared 18 years together. 

He is survived by his wife, Paula Walsh, Farmer City; his father, Robert E Walsh, Farmer City; two children, Patty Jo Walsh and Rob Walsh, both of Normal; three stepchildren, Nathan (Annie) Bowns, Farmer City; Angela (Kevin Sisney) Palivos, Mahomet; and Andrea (Brent McCullough) Palivos, Rantoul; two brothers, Tom (Sandra) Walsh, Camdenton, Mo., and Richard (Sally) Walsh, Farmer City; one sister, Linda (Steve) Rogers, Eureka Springs, Ark.; eight stepgrandchildren; six nephews; one great-niece; and one great-great-nephew. 

He was preceded in death by his mother, Elizabeth; his grandparents; three nephews; and one infant stepson.

Joe loved to study the stock markets and commodity markets. He enjoyed a long career in agriculture and business, owning and operating Mansfield Grain Inc., Joe Walsh Trucking, Walsh Grain Propane, and farming in Parnell. He also managed Walsh Grain Elevator for several years. He served in the Illinois Air National Guard from 1963 to 1969. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Farmer City, Piatt County Farm Bureau, and DeWitt County Pheasants Forever. He loved to laugh and visit with friends.