Richard Eugene Walsko

Richard Eugene "Rich" Walsko, age 80, of Plymouth, Minnesota, passed away on Tuesday, March 10, 2026.

Rich was born on August 26, 1945, in East Chicago, Indiana, to Emil and Cecilia Walsko. He grew up in Northwest Indiana and graduated from Clark High School in Whiting, Indiana. After high school, he proudly served his country in the United States Coast Guard.

Rich met Carolyn Sinder in high school, and they married in 1965 and recently celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary.

On February 28, 1977 Carolyn gave birth to the couple's only daughter, Alexis. Rich loved being a dad, and was always available to help his daughter. He loved taking the lead on any project, whether painting walls, moving art, or transporting furniture. Although even Rich had his paternal limits: Alexis remembers him finally saying, "No more chairs-I am done moving chairs."

Rich spent most of his career in the grocery industry, working for Jewel/Osco in Indiana and Illinois and Supervalu in Minneapolis, where he built relationships, trust, and friendships.

Rich's early passion was baseball. In his youth, he played the game exceptionally well; those who watched him remember his skill. Rich loved going to games with Alexis and Carolyn, and the games were the soundtrack of many days at home. They would loyally cheer on the Twins, regardless of outcome.

Rich loved the outdoors. Fishing brought him immense joy. Rich also loved dogs and they loved him. He always said they were "so cool."

Rich was a kind and gentle man, so sentimental he would shed tears of gratitude during every holiday meal. If you were close enough to Rich, you might've been exposed to his quick wit. His sense of humor was especially evident in his loving relationship with Carolyn, a notoriously outgoing person with a bottomless curiosity-she's always ready with a hundred questions for anyone she's ever met. Rich often joked, "Carolyn is allowed only five questions a day for strangers."

Rich and Carolyn became grandparents in July of 2021, when Alexis welcomed her twins, Captain and Frankie. The grandparents became their daughter's new roomies-they immediately moved into Alexis' home to help care for the babies. Rich took on overnight feeding duty, proudly calling himself the "night nurse." When his 3 a.m. shift concluded, he would wake Carolyn with a chipper, "Shift change!" This was a magical time for the entire family unit-including their three dogs- will never be forgotten.

Rich was preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Cecilia Walsko, and his brother, Emil "Sonny" Walsko.

He is survived by his sister, Deborah Coppi, his wife, Carolyn (Sinder) Walsko, his daughter, Alexis Walsko of Mound, Minnesota, and his cherished grandchildren, Captain and Frankie Walsko. They all miss him already, immensely. As do his extended family members and friends. Everybody who loved Rich will remember him for his kindness, his openness, his neighborly instincts, and his propensity to always do the right thing.

Visitation will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, March 20, followed by a Mass of Christian Burial at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis. A celebration of life will follow.

In memory of Rich, memorials preferred to St. David's Developmental & Therapeutic Services, where his grandchildren Frankie and Captain received care. St. David's serves many children and families in need in our community. www.stdavidsmn.org/donate or 1130 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403