Obituaries
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trees
planted in memory of Donald L. Welch, Sr.
Obituary for Donald L. Welch, Sr.
DONALD L. WELCH, SR., 88, of Fulton, IL, died Thursday, February 9, 2023 at his home in Fulton.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 AM Monday, February 20, 2023 at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home, with Pastor Michael Harmon of Community of Hope Church in Davenport, IA, officiating. A visitation will be held from 3:00 – 7:00 PM Sunday, February 19, 2023 at the Fulton Chapel of the Bosma-Renkes Funeral Home. Interment will be in the Calvary Hill Cemetery in Fulton.
Don was born October 31, 1934 to Marshall E. and Anna (Henrichsen) Welch, on the family farm in rural Sabula, IA. He attended a rural one-room school house through 8th grade, and later received his GED in the Army. He served in the US Army from 1957-1959 and was stationed at the Fort Lewis Army base in Washington. On June 25, 1960 he married Myrna V. Charneski at the Immaculate Conception Church in Fulton. She died on June 12, 2008. Before joining the service, Don had helped on a hog farm, and after he was out of the service he went to work at Pillsbury in Clinton, IA. He then worked at Central Steel & Tube in Camanche, IA, and lastly, he went to work at International Harvester in Moline, IL as a welder, retiring in December of 1992. Don was baptized at the Methodist Church in Mt. Carroll, IL, later, the family became members of the Methodist Church in Sabula, IA. He was a member of the Clinton AmVets, the Clinton Moose Club for over 50 years, and a longtime member of the Clinton Eagles Club until their closure. He was most recently a member of the Albany American Legion.
Don enjoyed tinkering; he specialized in combustion engines. For years, he fixed lawnmower engines for many in the area. He was a welder by trade, and he could lay a perfect bead every time, with either hand. Don enjoyed bowling; he was a member of the Clinton Bowling Association for many years. He did league bowling on Thursdays, was a sub on Tuesdays, and bowled with his wife on Friday nights. Also bowled with his son and daughter-in-law on the mixed league on Fridays. He never missed an opportunity to attend tournaments, state and national. Don and his son were avid commercial fishermen for over 30 years. They supplied Bush’s Café in Fulton with their fresh catfish. He once created a special “bait catcher” that would attach to the side of his truck, and he would catch grasshoppers from the tall grass along the road ditches. In his free time, he enjoyed mushroom and ginseng hunting. He was an avid deer hunter, and had been hunting since the first year you could legally hunt in Iowa. His passion for hunting began with his brothers, then later he shared his love for hunting with his son, then his nephew Dave, and most recently with his granddaughter. He had always processed his own deer, and taught his granddaughter how to help at 12 years of age. Don’s kids will always remember the family trips they took each year, and have fond memories of helping to fill the wood burner to keep the family home warm all winter. Don’s passion was his family, and sharing his talents and adventures with them. Above all, he loved spending time with his grandkids and great-grandkids.
Survivors include one daughter, Patty (Scott Law) Martin of Fulton, IL; one son, Don Jr. (Gabriele) Welch of Camanche, IA; six grandchildren, Travis (Erin) Martin, Tiffany (Kyle) Schaver, Alex (fiancée Kyli Birkett) Martin, Nicole (Zach) Cunningham, Sabrina (Brandon) Schroeder, and Amber (Nate) Griser; fourteen great grandchildren, Levi and Finn; Everleigh and Beau; Ava; Nolan and Sophia; MaKayla, Paityn, Isaac and Isabelle; Aidan, Franklin “Duder” and Johnathan “JahJah”; two sisters, Marie Wyant of Clinton, IA and Helen Ricklefs of Monmouth, IA; two brothers, Vernon Welch of Bellevue, IA and Ronald Welch of Sabula, IA.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, Marshall “Mike” and Anna; his wife, Myrna; one sister, Ruth Macy; one brother, Eugene (Barb) Welch; one sister-in-law, Joyce Welch; one brother-n-law, Don Wyant.
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Previous Events
Visitation
Sunday
19
Feb
3:00 PM
- 7:00 PM
Bosma-Renkes - Fulton Chapel
1500 10th Avenue
Fulton, IL 61252
Service
Monday
20
Feb
10:30 AM
Bosma-Renkes - Fulton Chapel
1500 10th Avenue
Fulton, IL 61252
Cemetery Details
Location
Calvary Hill Cemetery
701 Fowler Rd
Fulton, IL 61252
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