William Joseph "Toby" Carney, age 78, beloved husband, father, grandfather, and friend, called home to the Lord on Thursday, June 26, 2025. Born August 8, 1946, to Bill and Mary Carney. Brother to Judy Keyes and Joan Carney. Husband of Paula (1946 - 2009). Father to Meghan (d. 1971), Katie (Eddie) Dahm, Kevin (Sarah) Carney, and Maureen (Mickey) Goetz. Bapa No to Will, Delanie, Tobie, Norah, Cate, Paula, George, Fritz and Robert. Special friend to Mary Krygiel.
Born in Wauwatosa, Toby lived a full life rooted in the St. Jude community where he grew up, attended school, and raised his family. He graduated from Marquette University High School in 1964, spent nine months in the Jesuit Seminary prior to attending Boston College and marrying his beloved wife Paula in 1969, sharing over 35 years together until her passing. They raised three children in their cherished Warren Avenue home.
Toby’s passion for helping others led to a distinguished career in insurance, receiving his training at Connecticut General before starting his own insurance company where he spent over fifty years and became one of the last remaining independent insurance representatives in the country.
Toby’s love for antiques, doling out financial advice, Costco, the Wall Street Journal, a USDA Choice cut of meat, and storytelling, was legendary, as was his humor.
A week did not go by in his life without a game of sheepshead with the boys, bridge with anyone, and Euchre with his kids and grandkids. Some of his favorite moments were fishing up north and in Canada, traveling with Paula and Mary, making dinner for friends, and crafting elaborate practical jokes. He was a devoted grandfather, earning the nickname "Bapa No”.
A man who was right on most things: the best possible disability policy, the card hands he played, the company he kept, the wife he chose to marry, and the love for his family was one day in July 2004 very wrong, which created one of the best pieces of Carney Family Folklore we’d like you to enjoy:
https://www.pbs.org/video/antiques-roadshow-appraisal-fake-block-front-chest/
The Carney Family would like to thank Laura Schroeder for the kindness and care provided to Dad at San Camillo, Zilber Family Hospice, and Dr. Mark Horneffer for the loving care of Toby and unwavering support of our family over the years. Your compassion has meant the world to us.
Toby’s celebration of life will be Monday, July 21, 2025 at St Jude the Apostle, 734 Glenview Ave. in Wauwatosa at 3:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, share a Toby story, or memorials may be made is his name to Divine Savior Holy Angels High School or Marquette University High School.