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Peter Robert Walsh (68) of Finland, Minnesota passed away on January 19, 2023. He was surrounded by loved ones, the music of Willie Nelson and the caring staff at St. Luke’s hospital. Pete was born in Lewiston, Maine in the summer of 1954. His family moved in the fall of 1956 to the North Shore of Lake Superior where he grew up in Hollow Rock, Hovland and Grand Marais.
Pete graduated from high school in Grand Marais spring of 1973. Pete had a fondness for fast cars, Standard Gas stations and outlaw country music. Pete moved to Finland after graduation. He married Caroline Parker in June of 1975 and together they raised their four children. Troy, Shawna, Justin and Amanda spent their youths in the country, building forts, hunting for agates, causing each other occasional injury and challenging their parents.
Pete had a love of Nascar. He and his brother Joe attended the Daytona 500 in 2015, which was a highlight in his life.
He began his Lake County service with the Finland Fire Department in April 1977. He continued with the department until his retirement in 2019. He also served on the Finland Search and Rescue from 1986 to 2014. Pete held daytime jobs while also responding when emergencies occurred within his community. He donated countless hours searching for lost people by land, air and waterways, responding to accidents, contacting people with hard news and consoling friends and strangers.
Pete ran for Lake County commissioner multiple times, first winning his seat in 2012 and had been re-elected for the seat since that time. He worked alongside others in the securing of $250,000 for the Clair Nelson Finland community center to pay off their remaining construction debt. He served on the Board for Finland Coop Store and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission. Those who served with him in government and his volunteer career knew they could depend on Pete to lighten the mood with a quick joke or story.
Pete leaves behind his four siblings, Joe Walsh (Sandy) of Florida, Ada Hill of Grand Marais, Bill Hackett (Carol) of Grand Portage, Wendy Hill (Tim) of Vermont, his four children, nine grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews and beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his mother Harriet Walsh in 2018.
A celebration of life will be held June 11th at the Clair Nelson Center. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Finland Fire Department and Search & Rescue. Please send to PO Box 556, Finland, MN 55603.
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