Kathleen Walsh

Kathleen (Kay) Lawler Walsh, 100, died peacefully on November 27, 2025, in Victoria, MN.

Born June 29, 1925, in Milwaukee, WI, to John and Ceceila (Murphy) Lawler, Kay was raised in Bayview by hardworking, second generation Irish immigrants, attended Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, and graduated from Mercy High School. Through her parents' deep devotion and active community involvement, she learned the importance of faith and service-values that guided her life.

Kay began a remarkable 50-year career in the travel industry in 1949, working for Northwest and Air France Airlines and later Elm Grove Travel. In 1985, in partnership with a dear friend, she purchased Schiff Travel in Shorewood, WI. Her work took her on adventures all over the world, feeding her curiosities about people, cultures, and history and fueling a lifelong passion for travel.

Kay married Dave Walsh in 1960, welcomed three children, and after Dave's sudden passing in 1969, devoted herself to their education, character, happiness, and faith. She later described those years as the best chapter of her life - so many wonderful memories with much to be grateful for, despite the challenges inherent in parenting alone. Her friendships - with her siblings, in-laws, and past colleagues, and later, adult nieces and nephews - were a source of tremendous comfort and joy.

Kay was one of the most courageous people any of us will know. At a time when traditional roles were the norm, she walked her own path - one shaped by courage, independence, and quiet determination. She was a deeply loving and committed mother, whose legacy centers on the importance of family and faith; vocation; integrity; resilience; compassion; and gratitude for every day.

We'll miss her endless, unconditional love; her capacity for conversation; her fantastic stories; her quick wit, one-liners, love of laughter, and beautiful smile; her sweet tooth and commitment to hot fudge; her lead foot; her funny sayings; and the warmth she shared so freely with others.

Kathleen is survived by her three children, David (Barbara), Kathleen (John), and Maureen (John), along with 15 nieces and nephews, 8 grandchildren, Kayla, Ben, Sean, Bridget, Meghan, Daniel, Kevin, and Mary; and 4 great-grandchildren, Emma, Piper, Savannah, and Olivia. She is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Orville (Fran), Rosemary (Dan), Patricia, John/"Junior", Eugene (Joyce), Thomas (Patricia), and Robert; granddaughter Grace, great-grandson Wesley; niece Mary Ceil Murray; and nephews Pat and Tom Lawler.

Catholic Funeral Rites for Kathleen will take place at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church and Mount Olivet Cemetery on Friday, December 5, 2025, with a brief Visitation at 10:30 am, funeral Mass at 11:00 am, and committal at the graveside following Mass. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Sisters of Mercy at www.sistersofmercy.org.