Kathryn Jo Walsh of Perry

0
1978
Kathy Annear Walsh of Perry is the queen in Kathy's Kastle.

Visitation for Kathryn Jo Walsh, 70, of Perry will be held Friday, Sept. 24 from 1-7 p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry. Family will greet friends from 5-7 p.m. and share a fellowship meal starting at 5 p.m. Celebration of life services will be held Saturday, Sept. 25 at 3 p.m. at Hastings Funeral Home in Perry.

Kathryn “Kathy” Jo Annear Walsh was born Feb. 15, 1951, to Ralph E. and Twyla B. Foltz Annear. She passed away peacefully in her home Aug. 14, 2021, in Perry, Iowa.

Kathy was raised in Perry and moved away only twice for short times, then remained in Perry all her life.

She graduated from Perry High School in 1969.

During her high school years, she worked at the Perry and Corral Drive-In Theatres, which were a perfect fit for her as she was always a huge movie fan. In high school, Kathy made learning office skills her priority. She used those skills all of her adult life.

Kathy married Ron Tolle, Jr. in February 1970. They had a daughter, Wendy Jo. Kathy later married Charles Taylor. She always told people and was emphatic that it was a huge mistake and there was nothing good about that marriage except a few in-laws. She married her soul mate, Leo “Sharky” Walsh, in June 1991.

Family was Kathy’s passion. Nothing was more important to her. She loved being a mom, grandma, aunt and sister. She and her brothers constantly shared fond childhood memories of their mom and dad, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins. Kathy tried to make times spent with the kids fun and memorable.

Kathy’s second passion was her public safety career. She worked for nearly three years at the Des Moines Police Department as a secretary. In 1980, she left there and started her communications career at the Perry Police Department, where she was communications operator (911 dispatcher) and then communications supervisor. She stayed at Perry PD for 27 years. She was always proud to work in her hometown and assist in keeping Perry’s citizens safe. After her retirement from Perry PD, she continued her public safety career as a secretary at the Adel Police Department.

Kathy enjoyed spending time with her family, reading, movies, trips to casinos and all animals, in particular, her cats Willow, Sir, Ash and Babycat.

Kathy was preceded in death by her husband, Leo “Sharky” Walsh; her parents, Ralph and Twyla; her grandparents, Wilbur and Mary “Isabelle” Annear and Merle and Amy Quayle Foltz; her mother-in-law, Jean Walsh; her sister-in-law, Margaret “Margie” Walsh; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.

Kathy is survived by her daughter, Wendy Jo Taylor and Eldon Thompson of Jefferson; brothers, Alan (Monica) Annear of Perry and Bill (Verneta) Annear of Perry; grandchildren, Jordan “Jack” (Bekah) Taylor, Lily Ruppel, Allison (Jon Jones) Thompson and Destiny Frees; great-grandchildren, Isabella, Sandra, Wyatt, Jayden, Leo, Ryder and Saphira; “adopted” grandma, Bev Koob; nieces, Jenny Walsh, Carin Bassett and Jodi Landry; nephews, Dan (Ashley) Annear, John Walsh Jr., Joseph Walsh, Michael Walsh and Jay Landals; brother-in-law, John Walsh; aunt, Elsina Faber Sieck; uncle, Bob Rowe; very best friend, Carla Shriver; two “adopted” daughters, Lisa Pentico and Lisa Ayers; her second family, the Zubers; her Perry and Adel PD families; many cousins; and many friends.

Hastings Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.