Walter P. Buckley

Posted on December 28, 2018
Walter P. Buckley

BLOOMINGTON – Walter P. Buckley, 94, of Eureka and Bloomington, passed away on Thursday, December 27, 2018, at Luther Oaks in Bloomington.

His funeral will be at 11:00 a.m., Monday, December 31, 2018, at Epiphany Catholic Church, Normal, with Rev. Joseph Baker officiating. Burial will be in Holy Cross Cemetery, Normal. Visitation will be from 10:00–11:00 a.m., Monday at the church.

Walt was born December 25, 1924, in Kewanee, the son of Leo and Veronica Matheis Buckley.  He married Mary Brandt on April 26, 1952 in Fort Madison, IA. She survives.

He is also survived by four children, Richard (Cathy) Buckley of St. Louis, MO, Sharon (Jake Maring) Buckley of Algoma, WI, Linda Buckley of Chicago and Allan (Laura) Buckley of Normal; three grandchildren, Dan Buckley (Ashley Atchison), Lisa (John) Marty and Ben Buckley; two great-grandchildren, Evan and Jake; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a brother and two sisters.

Walter was a child of the Depression, walking to his one room school in Sheffield six miles in the snow uphill both ways. He graduated from Sheffield High School.

A proud veteran of the U.S. Navy, Walt served in WWII in the Pacific aboard LST 923. He tells of his service in the award-winning documentary, “A Sailor’s Story.” https://bit.ly/2ENQL22

Walt retired from Caterpillar in 1982 after nearly 30 years. In retirement, he and Mary enjoyed many years of RV travel throughout the United States. He also was a longtime volunteer at OSF St. Joseph Hospital. A lifelong Chicago Cubs fan, he was thrilled by their 2016 World Series Championship. He could fix anything, and did.

Memorials may be directed to Epiphany Church or the Alzheimer’s Association. To express condolences online, please visit www.carmodyflynn.com

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…