Services for Mr. Edward Welch, 80, of Spirit Lake, will be held Thursday, December 17, 2009 at 11:00AM at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Visitation will be held Wednesday, December 16th after 3:00pm with the family present from 5:00-7:00pm at Turner Funeral Home in Spirit Lake. There will be a scripture service at 7:00pm with a rosary to follow. Mr. Welch passed away Friday, December 11, 2009 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake, Iowa.

Edward James Welch was born November 20, 1929 in Logan, Iowa, the son of William P. and Verna Welch.  He served in the United States Army during the Korean War and was stationed at Ft. Chaffee, Arkansas.  Ed received his Business and Law Degrees from Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. 

On February 23, 1957, Ed was united in marriage to Patricia Wozniak in Omaha.  The family lived in Omaha and Lombard, Illinois before moving to Spirit Lake in 1987.  The family summered in the Lakes Area since 1970.  Ed worked in private practice with his brother, Bill Welch, in Logan and retired as General Counsel of the Federal Land Bank in Omaha.

Ed cared so much for his family, friends and neighbors.  His catholic faith was the center of his life.  He was a past member of the Knights of Columbus and the American Bar Association.

Ed passed away December 11, 2009 at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake at eighty years of age.

He is survived by his wife, Pat; daughters, Molly (Larry) Harris of Miami, Florida, Katherine Welch of Minneapolis, Minnesota, Eileen (Mike) Lamer of Spirit Lake, Patty (Mike) Buzard of Petaluma, California and Joan Welch of Spirit Lake; son, E. James Welch (Fran) of Pensacola, Florida; grandchildren, Jordan Welch, Leslie Dahl, Rachel, Naomi and Nathan Harris, Jacqueline, Dorothy and Michael Buzard; great-grandchildren, Lake, Peyton and Autumn Dahl; sister, Pat (Swede) Selander of Sioux City, Iowa; sister-in-law, Betty Cleveland of Sierra Madre, California; numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William P. and Verna Welch; sister, Marjorie Booher and her husband, Bob; brothers, William H. Welch and his wife Maxine and Phillip Welch; nephews, Bill Welch and Barry Booher.

IN MEMORY

Edward James Welch

November 20, 1929

December 11, 2009

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL

St. Mary’s Catholic Church

Spirit Lake, Iowa

Thursday, December 17, 2009   11:00AM

PRESIDER

Father James Smith

Father Albert O. Grendler

MUSIC

Gaylene Rolling, Cantor

Donna Williams, Organist

PALLBEARERS

Sean Booher                  Kent Kilen

Steven Selander         Kelly O’Brien

Terry Plummer         Maurice Kirlin

Memorials may be sent to St. Mary’s Youth Ministry.