Thomas J. Walsh, 81, of Hartford, was born to eternal life on Wednesday, March 11, 2009, with his family by his side.

Tom was born on May 22, 1927, to John and Katherine (nee Flynn) Walsh of Hartford. With his sisters Mary and Joan, he was the fifth generation of Walshes to live on the land first granted to his great-grandfather by President Polk in 1842.

In 1944, Tom joined the United States Army and served his country until his honorable discharge in 1946. While serving overseas, he vowed that if he ever got back within sight of Holy Hill, he would never leave again.

Once he returned to the States, he worked with his father on the family farm. In addition, he worked for the Washington County Highway Department for 39 years, until his retirement in 1989.

Tom married Joan Collins on Aug. 22, 1966, at St. Patrick’s Church in the town of Erin. They built a home on the family farmstead where they raised five daughters, who will remember him for his constant love and devotion to his family, church and farm.

Tom loved to be outside, if not farming then hunting or walking through the fields. His sense of humor and wit were unparalleled and he could always be counted on for a good laugh, even in his final days.

He is survived by his loving wife Joan; his daughters Kathleen (John) Goldstein of Stony Brook, N.Y., Kristine (Glenn) Huber of Germantown, Colleen (Jeff) Callies of Watertown, Jennifer Walsh of Minneapolis, Minn., and Jacqueline Walsh of Wauwatosa; grandsons Jacob Meister and Carson Huber; and sisters Mary Woelfel of Pittsburgh, Penn., and Joan Enders of San Antonio, Texas.

Visitation will be held Sunday, March 15, at Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home in Hartford from 3 to 6 p.m. Vigil service at 5:45 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial at St. Patrick’s Church in the town of Erin Monday, March 16, at 10:30 a.m. The Rev. David LaPlante will officiate. Interment St. Patrick’s Cemetery. The Berndt-Ledesma Funeral Home is serving the family. www.berndt-ledesma.com.