ALMENA, Kan. - John “Jay” Joseph Walsh, Jr., 70, of Almena, Kan.; passed away Nov. 20, 2023, at his home.
He was born July 9, 1953, in Chelsea, Mass.; to John Joseph, Sr. and Maria Ida (Eibelhauser) Walsh.
Jay grew up in Darien, Conn.; and graduated from Darien High School in 1970. Jay married Gayle Tripp on Sept. 4, 1993, in Darien, Conn. While in Connecticut he worked for Reliable Heating and Air in Norwalk and as a travel agent. While they lived in Mountain View, Wyo., he was a real estate agent, owned Big Jays Heating and Air Conditioning and was a maintenance supervisor at Western Wyoming Community College. Jay and Gayle moved to Almena in 2006. He worked at the Norton Correctional Facility as a maintenance supervisor until his retirement.
Jay loved helping people and was a volunteer in the 1980s for the Connecticut Special Olympics and more recently the Relay for Life.
He enjoyed being outdoors fishing, deer hunting, or camping and loved taking photographs of the outdoors. Jay was a very talented skier and met Gayle while both were members of the Ski Bears of Connecticut.
Whether camping or at home he loved smoking meat, he even made his own marinades and rubs. Jay was “Jack of all trades”, while HVAC, electrical and plumbing work were his main talents. He could fix and work on anything that needed fixed. Jay loved sharing laughs with his friends, adventures with Gayle, and taking their dog Calli anywhere he could.
Jay is survived by his wife, Gayle of the home; son, Sam (Pam) Walsh of West Norwalk, Conn.; and grandchildren: Joshua and Alison. He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Maria Walsh.
The family has followed Jays wishes and have chosen cremation. Arrangements by: Plumer-Gobber Funeral Home, 215 W. Main St., Norton, KS 67654. Condolences may be left at www.plumergobber.com.
