Captain Joseph Francis Walsh Jr.

March 7, 1937 - April 19, 2021

Captain Joseph Francis Walsh passed away peacefully on April 19th at Angela Hospice in Livonia, MI at the age of 84. Joseph was a parishioner of the St. Kateri Tekakwitha in Dearborn. Visitation will be this Friday, April 23rd 10-10:45 a.m. in the Gathering Space next to St. Kateri. Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. in the church. Address: 16101 Rotunda Drive, Dearborn, MI 48120. Joe was born in the coastal town of Oyster Bay, NY to Alice and Joseph Walsh. He is predeceased by his wife, Christine, his stepson, Daniel Kelley, and his sisters Marie and Elizabeth. He is survived by his brother Greg, his stepsons R.J. and Matthew Kelley, his nephew John David Walsh, his nieces Sarah Mellen and Kathleen Kelly, grand nephews Jack Kelly and Colin Mellen, and grand niece Nora Walsh. Joe and his wife Christine were proud of their Irish heritage and enjoyed celebrating Irish culture including concerts by the Chieftains and other Celtic music groups. Joe graduated from St. Dominic High School in Oyster Bay and St. Vincent College in Latrobe, PA, where he was President of the student body his Senior year. He then attended Detroit College of Law, and the U.S. Naval Officer Candidate School. Joe served in the Navy, doing active duty first on the USS Searcher, and then on the USS Greenwich Bay. Captain Joe’s tales of the Navy are legendary. When he retired from the Navy in 1997 he joined the Navy Reserve, and became a recruiter for the Gold Star Naval Academy. He enjoyed being a lifelong mentor of young recruits who shared a love of the sea. As an attorney, he worked as an insurance adjuster for John Charters & Michael Heck, and the Great American Insurance Company. He also shared a private law partnership with Justin Giltner, and they created the firm Giltner & Walsh. His “retirement career” was both as a Model T driver at Greenfield Village, and costumed docent for the Henry Ford Museum. The T-drivers, including “The Captain”, “Pope Paul”, “The Baron”, “The XO”, “Lord Jim” and “Bink”, were quite a crew. He served on the board of the Dearborn Library Foundation, as well as various education programs. Most recently, Joe enjoyed sharing his life experiences through a creative writing program directed by his dear friend, Anne Gautreau. Joe’s love of the best parts of life he readily shared with all that knew him. A helping hand in times of distress, his kindness, humor, generosity, and deep humanity will be missed, and celebrated with love as his journey continues. In lieu of flowers the family asks that memorial donations be made to the Dearborn Library Foundation in Joe’s name.