Deacon Joseph A. Walsh, 71, died at home in River Forest on March 3. Deacon Walsh was ordained in 2009 and served at Ascension Parish in Oak Park.

Deacon Walsh was a member of Ascension Parish for 67 years. He graduated from Ascension School and St. Ignatius High School, received his undergraduate and master’s degrees from Loyola University Chicago. He was dean emeritus of Loyola’s School of Social Work.

In addition to serving as a deacon, he was very active in Oak Park community affairs. He was past president of District 97 school board and a member of the Oak Park mental health board.

He is survived by his wife, Katherine, and children David Walsh, Laura Stawczyk, Maureen Hilquist and Matthew Walsh and nine grandchildren; and siblings Mary Winklebleck, Clare Sobiesk, Joanne Lovell, Kathleen Walsh, Sheila Scanlan, and Patrick Kevin and Denis Walsh.