William H. Walsh

HUBBARD, NE | William Howard "Bill" Walsh, 88 of Hubbard, entered into heaven, surrounded by his loving family, on Wednesday, January 2, 2013. Services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday, January 5, 2013 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Hubbard with Rev. Paul Albenesius officiating. Burial will be in St. Mary's Cemetery in Hubbard. Visitation will be 5-8 p.m. Friday, January 4th with the family present 6-8 p.m. and a vigil service at 7 p.m. all at the church. Condolences may be made online at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel is handling arrangements. Bill was born on February 7, 1924 in Willis, Nebraska to Thomas and Alice (Howard) Walsh. He grew up and worked on the family farm in the Willis area. He married Madonna Brennan on September 8, 1951, and from this union they were blessed with 5 children. Bill and Madonna made their first home in Hubbard, where Bill farmed and raised cattle all his life. Bill was very proud of his family farm, and he and Madonna were awarded The 100 Year Pioneer Farm Award sponsored by the Nebraska Farm Bureau. The award honors farm families in Nebraska whose land has been owned by the same family for 100 years or more. Bill, along with his son, Jerry and grandson, Justin, were recognized and selected by the USDA, Department of Agriculture in Washington D.C., in an article, on Three Generations farming together on the family farm in 2011. Bill took pride in his farming and raising cattle, in which found him always out checking his crops and driving pastures checking his cattle. He loved spending time with his family and friends. Bill was an active member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, in which he served on the Parish Council for many years. Bill also served on the Hubbard School Board, and also served on the FHA Board. Bill was an active Board member of the Drainage Ditch committee for Dakota County, and served as the Chairperson on the ASC Farm Program. Survivors include his five children and their families, Jerry and his wife, Linda (Hall) of Hubbard, Patsy and her husband, Stan Martineck, also of Hubbard, Mary and her husband, John Stanton of Gretna, Nebraska, Tom and his wife, Holly (Taylor) of Ponca, and Peg Nissen of South Sioux City, Nebraska; a twin sister, Betty Cotton of South Sioux City; 20 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren, and many nieces and nephews. Bill was preceded in death by his loving wife, Madonna, his parents, Tom and Alice Walsh, and a sister, Peggie Beacom.