Patrick "Pat" Walsh

1953 - 2016

Patrick "Pat" Walsh, 62, of Fairbanks, passed away peacefully with his wife, Kathy, at his side, Monday afternoon, Feb. 29, 2016 after a brief battle with cancer.
Patrick was born Nov. 29, 1953 in Sheboygan, Wisconsin, the son of Robert and Valeria (Henry) Walsh. He graduated from Sheboygan Falls High School in 1972. He entered the Marine Corps and was honorably discharged, earning distinction as an expert marksman. Patrick was a self-employed semi-truck driver (Peterbilt reefer) for several years. He also built a modified stock car (No. 96) in partnership with his brother, Steve, and raced the car at the Plymouth, Wisconsin quarter-mile dirt track. He was fast qualifier more than once (13.939) and won heat races, semi-features and the modified feature in 1990. 
Pat moved to Fairbanks in the early 1990s where he met and married Kathleen Stewart July 30, 2000. Pat and Kathy made their home in North Pole. Living in Alaska gave Pat the opportunity to pursue his many passions, including bear and moose hunting, and fishing. He continued his interest in dirt track racing and owned/sponsored an IMC mod at the Mitchell Raceway in Fairbanks. He became interested in gold mining and had done quite a bit of research on potential mining opportunities, purchased a drag line and sluice and was beginning initial prospecting, however, he took a break from gold mining to return to Wisconsin after the death of his brother, Steve, to tend to the planting and harvesting of corn, soybeans and winter wheat. 
Pat was a collector of equipment and could not pass a good deal. He had accumulated cars, trucks, a semi-truck (Kenworth), trailers, boats, motorcycles, mining equipment, stock cars and farm equipment during his lifetime. In addition, he owned a house and property in Wasilla.
Pat took great pride in working as a truck driver for CH2M Hill on Alaska's North Slope. He was an ice road trucker (Freightliner) for Big State during the winter months, driving Fairbanks to Prudhoe Bay. Valdez was also a frequent destination. Before CH2M Hill, Pat was employed as maintenance supervisor at the Regency Hotel in Fairbanks.
Pat is survived by his wife, Kathleen; step-children Frederick and Jacquline Sprewell, Evelina Stewart, Phillip Adams, Aisha Stewart-Caldwell and Nova Shanks; and one grandchild Emriq Stewart-DeLaRosa; three sisters, Sally (Brian) Korff, Marilyn (Peter) Mersberger, of Sheboygan Falls, and Susan Walsh (Mark Thompson), of Oregon, Wisconsin; two brothers, Dave (Cheryl), of Summerville, Oregon; and Brian (Constance) Walsh, of Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin; 15 nieces and nephews: Jesse, Corey (Laura) and Kyle (Socheat) Korff, Elizabeth (Jerod) Voskuil, Lisa (Matt) Wisse, and Ryan (Katie Niedfeldt) Walsh, Heather (Derek) Howard, Phillip and Clinton (Carol) Walsh, Justin (Megan Kerscher) and Meredith (Zach Mutsch) Walsh, Joshua (Michelle Murray) and Zachary (Casie Brooks) Mersberger, Sara Collins (Erick Posner) and Katie (Elias) Charles; 19 great-nieces and nephews: Justin and Austin Korff, Kato Korff, Janiessa, Laurina and Angelina Grady, Lydia and Jonah Voskuil, Isabella and Delaney Wisse, Isla Wilson, Avery and Drew Howard, Kaylee and Teagan Walsh, Owen and Olive Walsh, Issac Posner and Sophia Delgado. He is also survived by his father-in-law, Bill (Connie) Stewart, and mother-in-law Julia Stewart, brothers-in-law Dave Collins and Bill (Kristen) Stewart and family, and many friends and other relatives.
Patrick was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, Rocky and Steven Walsh; one sister, Jennifer Collins, and many other relatives.
Per Patrick's request, the memorial service to celebrate Patrick's life will be private. Burial will be in St. Rose Cemetery, Sheboygan Falls, Wisconsin.