Louis E. "Lew" Welch Jr., 93, formerly of Wood River passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at Tiffany Square in Grand Island.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River, with the Rev. Jorge Canela officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery.
Lew was born Sept. 13, 1927 in Evanston, Ill., to Marie (Hodell) and Louis E. Welch Sr.
He graduated in 1945 from Catholic Central High School in Springfield, Ohio.
He enlisted in the Navy Air Corp and was honorably discharge in 1947.
Lew met the love of his life, Phyllis "Sunny" Reck, while both were attending Denison university in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1949. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Lew and Sunny were united in marriage July 8, 1950 in Springfield, Ohio.
They made their home in Hutchinson, Kan., North Platte, Omaha and Bethlehem, Pa., having five children along the way. They settled in Wood River in 1958 and added six more children. It was there they raised all 'leben' of them in the big white house on the corner.
In 2012 they moved to Grand Island.
After a year in casualty insurance, Lew joined the Bank of Wood River in 1958, eventually becoming vice president and auditor, then director.
In his 34 active banking years, Lew working on a number of Wood River community activities. He served on the board and building committee for St. Mary's Church. He also served as president and secretary of the Business Association and the Lions Club, where he was additionally a director and treasurer.
For 28 years, Lew was an active member of the volunteer fire department, many as treasurer and briefly as chief. He was a charter member of the rescue squad and helped raise funds for the Good Samaritan Home.
Lew was director and treasurer for over 40 years of the Wood River Fair Association.
A founding member of the Wood River Centennial Foundation, he served as president and treasurer.
He was a charter member of the Fort Kearney Antique Car Club and Wood River Country Club, serving on several committees.
As an American Legion member, he was elected finance officer and served on the building committee which raised funds to build a new hall.
He also held memberships in the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus (lifetime) and the Grand Island Coin Club.
He was a commodore of the Sherman Yacht Club and on the banking committee of the Independent Association of Insurance Agents of Nebraska.
He was a charter member of Nebraska Pilots Association and served as its president. He was also regional vice president of the United States Pilots Association.
Lew's passions were family, community, traveling with Sunny, woodworking, sailing and flying. Many family members and friends were recipients of his one-of-a-kind wood pieces and plane rides and songs.
He loved music and singing silly songs to his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids to teach them to appreciate music. He valued friendships and time with the Kearney Area 1733 Barbershop Chorus.
Those left to follow in his big footsteps are six daughters and sons-in-law, Terri (Tom) Hongsermeier of Ravenna, Suzie (Arch) Mrkvicka of Owatonna, Minn., Nancy (Rick) Ryerson of Oakland, Calif., Patti (Tracy) Potter of Kansas City, Mo., Vicki (Mike) Palu of Grand Island and Peggy (Tim) Abramson of Franksville, Wis.; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Skip Welch of Phoenix, Rick (Tracy) Welch of Niceville, Fla., Jack (Joyce) Welch of Doniphan, Jim (Margaret) Welch of Arlington, Wash., and Don (Vicki) Welch of Colleyville, Texas; 29 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Gert Johnstone of Springfield, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Lew was preceded in death by his wife, Sunny; his parents; and two sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River, with the Rev. Jorge Canela officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery.
Lew was born Sept. 13, 1927 in Evanston, Ill., to Marie (Hodell) and Louis E. Welch Sr.
He graduated in 1945 from Catholic Central High School in Springfield, Ohio.
He enlisted in the Navy Air Corp and was honorably discharge in 1947.
Lew met the love of his life, Phyllis "Sunny" Reck, while both were attending Denison university in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1949. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Lew and Sunny were united in marriage July 8, 1950 in Springfield, Ohio.
They made their home in Hutchinson, Kan., North Platte, Omaha and Bethlehem, Pa., having five children along the way. They settled in Wood River in 1958 and added six more children. It was there they raised all 'leben' of them in the big white house on the corner.
In 2012 they moved to Grand Island.
After a year in casualty insurance, Lew joined the Bank of Wood River in 1958, eventually becoming vice president and auditor, then director.
In his 34 active banking years, Lew working on a number of Wood River community activities. He served on the board and building committee for St. Mary's Church. He also served as president and secretary of the Business Association and the Lions Club, where he was additionally a director and treasurer.
For 28 years, Lew was an active member of the volunteer fire department, many as treasurer and briefly as chief. He was a charter member of the rescue squad and helped raise funds for the Good Samaritan Home.
Lew was director and treasurer for over 40 years of the Wood River Fair Association.
A founding member of the Wood River Centennial Foundation, he served as president and treasurer.
He was a charter member of the Fort Kearney Antique Car Club and Wood River Country Club, serving on several committees.
As an American Legion member, he was elected finance officer and served on the building committee which raised funds to build a new hall.
He also held memberships in the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus (lifetime) and the Grand Island Coin Club.
He was a commodore of the Sherman Yacht Club and on the banking committee of the Independent Association of Insurance Agents of Nebraska.
He was a charter member of Nebraska Pilots Association and served as its president. He was also regional vice president of the United States Pilots Association.
Lew's passions were family, community, traveling with Sunny, woodworking, sailing and flying. Many family members and friends were recipients of his one-of-a-kind wood pieces and plane rides and songs.
He loved music and singing silly songs to his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids to teach them to appreciate music. He valued friendships and time with the Kearney Area 1733 Barbershop Chorus.
Those left to follow in his big footsteps are six daughters and sons-in-law, Terri (Tom) Hongsermeier of Ravenna, Suzie (Arch) Mrkvicka of Owatonna, Minn., Nancy (Rick) Ryerson of Oakland, Calif., Patti (Tracy) Potter of Kansas City, Mo., Vicki (Mike) Palu of Grand Island and Peggy (Tim) Abramson of Franksville, Wis.; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Skip Welch of Phoenix, Rick (Tracy) Welch of Niceville, Fla., Jack (Joyce) Welch of Doniphan, Jim (Margaret) Welch of Arlington, Wash., and Don (Vicki) Welch of Colleyville, Texas; 29 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Gert Johnstone of Springfield, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Lew was preceded in death by his wife, Sunny; his parents; and two sisters.
Louis E. "Lew" Welch Jr., 93, formerly of Wood River passed away peacefully Saturday, Oct. 17, 2020 at Tiffany Square in Grand Island.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River, with the Rev. Jorge Canela officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery.
Lew was born Sept. 13, 1927 in Evanston, Ill., to Marie (Hodell) and Louis E. Welch Sr.
He graduated in 1945 from Catholic Central High School in Springfield, Ohio.
He enlisted in the Navy Air Corp and was honorably discharge in 1947.
Lew met the love of his life, Phyllis "Sunny" Reck, while both were attending Denison university in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1949. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Lew and Sunny were united in marriage July 8, 1950 in Springfield, Ohio.
They made their home in Hutchinson, Kan., North Platte, Omaha and Bethlehem, Pa., having five children along the way. They settled in Wood River in 1958 and added six more children. It was there they raised all 'leben' of them in the big white house on the corner.
In 2012 they moved to Grand Island.
After a year in casualty insurance, Lew joined the Bank of Wood River in 1958, eventually becoming vice president and auditor, then director.
In his 34 active banking years, Lew working on a number of Wood River community activities. He served on the board and building committee for St. Mary's Church. He also served as president and secretary of the Business Association and the Lions Club, where he was additionally a director and treasurer.
For 28 years, Lew was an active member of the volunteer fire department, many as treasurer and briefly as chief. He was a charter member of the rescue squad and helped raise funds for the Good Samaritan Home.
Lew was director and treasurer for over 40 years of the Wood River Fair Association.
A founding member of the Wood River Centennial Foundation, he served as president and treasurer.
He was a charter member of the Fort Kearney Antique Car Club and Wood River Country Club, serving on several committees.
As an American Legion member, he was elected finance officer and served on the building committee which raised funds to build a new hall.
He also held memberships in the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus (lifetime) and the Grand Island Coin Club.
He was a commodore of the Sherman Yacht Club and on the banking committee of the Independent Association of Insurance Agents of Nebraska.
He was a charter member of Nebraska Pilots Association and served as its president. He was also regional vice president of the United States Pilots Association.
Lew's passions were family, community, traveling with Sunny, woodworking, sailing and flying. Many family members and friends were recipients of his one-of-a-kind wood pieces and plane rides and songs.
He loved music and singing silly songs to his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids to teach them to appreciate music. He valued friendships and time with the Kearney Area 1733 Barbershop Chorus.
Those left to follow in his big footsteps are six daughters and sons-in-law, Terri (Tom) Hongsermeier of Ravenna, Suzie (Arch) Mrkvicka of Owatonna, Minn., Nancy (Rick) Ryerson of Oakland, Calif., Patti (Tracy) Potter of Kansas City, Mo., Vicki (Mike) Palu of Grand Island and Peggy (Tim) Abramson of Franksville, Wis.; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Skip Welch of Phoenix, Rick (Tracy) Welch of Niceville, Fla., Jack (Joyce) Welch of Doniphan, Jim (Margaret) Welch of Arlington, Wash., and Don (Vicki) Welch of Colleyville, Texas; 29 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Gert Johnstone of Springfield, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Lew was preceded in death by his wife, Sunny; his parents; and two sisters.
Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 22, at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Wood River, with the Rev. Jorge Canela officiating.
Burial with military honors will follow in the St. Mary's Cemetery.
Lew was born Sept. 13, 1927 in Evanston, Ill., to Marie (Hodell) and Louis E. Welch Sr.
He graduated in 1945 from Catholic Central High School in Springfield, Ohio.
He enlisted in the Navy Air Corp and was honorably discharge in 1947.
Lew met the love of his life, Phyllis "Sunny" Reck, while both were attending Denison university in Granville, Ohio, graduating in 1949. He was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity.
Lew and Sunny were united in marriage July 8, 1950 in Springfield, Ohio.
They made their home in Hutchinson, Kan., North Platte, Omaha and Bethlehem, Pa., having five children along the way. They settled in Wood River in 1958 and added six more children. It was there they raised all 'leben' of them in the big white house on the corner.
In 2012 they moved to Grand Island.
After a year in casualty insurance, Lew joined the Bank of Wood River in 1958, eventually becoming vice president and auditor, then director.
In his 34 active banking years, Lew working on a number of Wood River community activities. He served on the board and building committee for St. Mary's Church. He also served as president and secretary of the Business Association and the Lions Club, where he was additionally a director and treasurer.
For 28 years, Lew was an active member of the volunteer fire department, many as treasurer and briefly as chief. He was a charter member of the rescue squad and helped raise funds for the Good Samaritan Home.
Lew was director and treasurer for over 40 years of the Wood River Fair Association.
A founding member of the Wood River Centennial Foundation, he served as president and treasurer.
He was a charter member of the Fort Kearney Antique Car Club and Wood River Country Club, serving on several committees.
As an American Legion member, he was elected finance officer and served on the building committee which raised funds to build a new hall.
He also held memberships in the Elks Club, the Knights of Columbus (lifetime) and the Grand Island Coin Club.
He was a commodore of the Sherman Yacht Club and on the banking committee of the Independent Association of Insurance Agents of Nebraska.
He was a charter member of Nebraska Pilots Association and served as its president. He was also regional vice president of the United States Pilots Association.
Lew's passions were family, community, traveling with Sunny, woodworking, sailing and flying. Many family members and friends were recipients of his one-of-a-kind wood pieces and plane rides and songs.
He loved music and singing silly songs to his kids, grandkids and great-grandkids to teach them to appreciate music. He valued friendships and time with the Kearney Area 1733 Barbershop Chorus.
Those left to follow in his big footsteps are six daughters and sons-in-law, Terri (Tom) Hongsermeier of Ravenna, Suzie (Arch) Mrkvicka of Owatonna, Minn., Nancy (Rick) Ryerson of Oakland, Calif., Patti (Tracy) Potter of Kansas City, Mo., Vicki (Mike) Palu of Grand Island and Peggy (Tim) Abramson of Franksville, Wis.; five sons and four daughters-in-law, Skip Welch of Phoenix, Rick (Tracy) Welch of Niceville, Fla., Jack (Joyce) Welch of Doniphan, Jim (Margaret) Welch of Arlington, Wash., and Don (Vicki) Welch of Colleyville, Texas; 29 grandchildren; 14 great grandchildren; sister, Gert Johnstone of Springfield, Ohio and many nieces and nephews.
Lew was preceded in death by his wife, Sunny; his parents; and two sisters.
