Age 85 of Maplewood, originally from St. Paul, died peacefully on April 5, 2014 at The Homestead of Maplewood in the presence of several of his children. Preceded in death by parents, Fred and Ida; sister, Fern Diebel; and brothers, Floyd, Jerry and Marshall. Survived by children, Cathe Picek (Jerry Bohnsack), John (Annie), Terry (Dave Herbert), Marijo, Maggie (Steve) Kaufmann, Bob, Betsy (Dave) Fuller, Bill, Jim (Kiyomi) and Joe (Tammy), twenty-three grandchildren and thirteen great-grandchildren. Also survived by sisters, June Hemsted and Mary Helen (Bill) Francis; brothers, Lee (Janice) and Tom (Carol); and many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to the staff at The Homestead for their care and concern during the last months of Wally’s life.
Wally joined the Marines at 17, worked for his dad in construction and then helped form Monette Construction Company with his brothers in the early 1960s. He was a member of the carpenters union for many years. Wally was an avid fisherman and deer hunter, a voracious reader, and a longtime member of the St. Paul East Parks Lions Club and Past District Governor 1970-1971. A Memorial Mass will be held on Monday, April 14 at Presentation of the BVM Church, 1725 Kennard Street, Maplewood at 11:00. Family and friends may gather in the church vestibule for Visitation from 10:00 – 11:00. Luncheon at Presentation and burial at Fort Snelling will follow the service. Memorials preferred to Alzheimer’s Association of Minnesota-North Dakota, 7900 W. 78th St., Suite 100, Minneapolis, MN 55437; MN Lions MD5M Hearing Foundation, c/o PDG Mike Vos, Treasurer, 20472 371st Ave, Green Isle, MN 55338; or The Homestead of Maplewood, 1890 Sherren Ave. E, Maplewood, MN 55109.