Bernard M. Walsh

It is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Bernard Michael Walsh, who left us unexpectedly on April 14, 2025, at the age of 86.

Bernie was a lifelong St. Paul resident and proud North-End business owner for nearly 70 years. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Catherine; children, Michael (Tamara), Timothy (Tasha), Catherine (Leslie) Kustrich, Margaret Menker, Trisha (Scott) Jaeger, 12 grandchildren, 18 great- grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild; sisters; Margaret Strecker, Marilyn (Kenneth) Washenberger, best friend, Sisto Munoz and many other beloved family and friends. Bernie lived a life full of devotion to family, hard work, good times, kindness, and love. He is missed beyond what mere words can express.

Bernie was born November 14, 1938, to Vincent and Margaret Walsh, the third child of six. Bernie always had a strong love for his parents and siblings that went beyond measure. In 1957, Bernie, with his father Vincent and brother Patrick started A-1 Walsh Tree Service operating for many years on Front Street, later operating on Larch Avenue in St. Paul, Minnesota. That same year Bernard’s life took off when he married the love of his life Catherine (Kitty) Sarafolean and started their family of five children.

Bernie’s devotion to his family was tested in 1973 when his brother Thomas was involved in an accident that left him paralyzed. In addition to raising his own family, Bernie devoted the next 13 years of his life to caring for his brother Tom’s daily needs. Bernie lived by the belief from Father Flanagan’s Boy’s Town “He ain’t heavy, he is my brother.” Bernie’s belief was that he was his brother’s keeper, no matter who his brother was. Bernie was a person who took care of others and passed that lesson (one of many) on to his children and grandchildren.

Bernie’s work left impacts, both large and small, on the St. Paul and Minneapolis landscape. He and his father cleared the trees from St. Paul to Minneapolis to make the way for Highway 94 and Spaghetti Junction in the 60’s. Bernie did contract tree work for the Minnesota State Fair, local cemeteries, and multiple St. Paul and Minneapolis area municipalities. When Dutch Elm disease and Emerald Ash bore hit, in the 70’s & 80’s, his work changed the tree lined streets of St. Paul and Minneapolis neighborhoods. While the work was good, there was always a sadness about the changing of the scenery of our city and streets. Private tree work was always the bread and butter of the business and the way Bernie got to meet so many people. Bernie was networking before it was even a word. Whether it was a job, a truck needing to be fixed or knowing where the fish were biting, Bernie always wanted to help or knew someone who could help if he couldn’t do it. Bernie was a lifetime member of Local 49 International Union of Operating Engineers/Heavy Equipment Operators.

During 70 years in the tree service industry, alongside his father, brothers, sons and nephew and friends, Bernie and his wife, Kitty (whom he called “Queenie”), built a successful business, employing many people who needed a chance (or two) in life, who started out as employees but ended up as lifetime friends. To this day Bernie, (with his sons Mike and Tim and best friend Tony Munoz), still got up every day and went to work. There was never a day Bernie wanted to retire or stop doing what he loved to do, which was working at running his business, driving around in his truck, dealing with people, drinking coffee or Pepsi, and doing his scratch offs. His knowledge of the street layouts paralleled Google maps. There was not a street, address, or location he could not direct you to. The value of hard work and ability to adapt when needed were lessons he taught his children and grandchildren. From a long line of entrepreneurs, they were taught you had to work hard to accomplish your goals along with the value of compromise and earning everything on your own.

Bernie’s love for life and family was most evident during times spent with family fishing, deer hunting, snowmobiling or the casino. When his children were young, it was weekends at his in-laws, Nick and Helen’s on Cross Lake in Pine City and the cherished memories of family weekends teaching his children to fish, swim, waterski and enjoy Minnesota outdoors. In the winter, snowmobiling at the “Shack” in Nashwauk, MN which was a cabin deep in Northern Minnesota, only accessible by snowmobile at the time. These were weekends spent with brothers and sisters and their families, making memories that are still cherished. Bernie spent many years hunting deer in Nashwauk with brothers and nephews and family, friends and family. New Year’s snowmobile trips were enjoyed to the fullest.

Frank’s Lodge in Dent Minnesota was a place that his entire family (brothers, sisters, in-laws and cousins from both sides of the family) went to on Memorial Day, Fourth of July and Labor Day. These were the times he shut off the business and just enjoyed family, while not always easy, he somehow, he always made it happen. These trips encapsulated everything that was important to him, family, fun and fishing. It’s here that Bernie instilled “the love of the lake” in his children. He was excited to return to Frank’s with his daughters a few summers ago to see that not much had changed, the trees were a little bigger, the cabins refreshed, but he remembered details of each trip vividly.

The seed that was planted in Pine City grew and matured at Star Lake/Franks, and blossomed into the strong oak, that was his cabin in Fredric, Wisconsin. It was there that he was the happiest. Surrounded by friends and family, Bernie especially loved his grandchildren being there and believed “the more the better’.

There was no doubt, Spirit Lake was the “other love of his life” for over 40 years. The cabin is situated on five acres of lakeshore, and it is a little slice of heaven on earth. It is here where life slowed down and where Bernie spent weekends with his family and friends. Every one of his children and grandchildren learned to fish, swim, hunt, canoe, shoot guns, bow and arrows, play spoons, gin rummy and just be kids. “The cabin” was always on his mind. If he was not at the cabin, he was thinking about the cabin, fishing or looking at deer with his grandkids and maybe a little time at the casino. Our most treasured times as a family happened “at the lake.” Every one of us (regardless of the generation), grew up there, which was his plan all along, it is our common thread which binds the fabric of our family. The lake is the place we made so many memories, and our roots were deeply planted. Bernie worked very hard to make sure it was always there for us, it nearly broke his heart a time or two, but he always found a way. He was happy to share the experience with anyone wanting to enjoy its beauty. It’s cherished ground, it is there that we will always find him.

Family is like branches on a tree, we all grow in different directions, yet our roots remain the same. Bernie and Kitty are the trunks of that tree, that tree is securely planted beside Spirit Lake, where the eagles fly, the fish are biting, the deer run free, the sunsets are beautiful, and he always will be, “at the lake” ……….and forever in our hearts.

A Mass of Christian Burial for Bernie will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, May 2 at The Church of St. Bernard, 187 W. Geranium Ave., St. Paul. Visitation at the church from 10-11 AM Friday.

Following the mass, a luncheon will be held at Gabe's by the Park, 991 N. Lexington Pkwy., St. Paul.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

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