Ralph Gordon Welch

Ralph G. Welch, 84, of Waukon, IA, passed away peacefully with his family by his side on Tuesday, March 28, 2017, at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services will be held Saturday, April 1st, at 11:00 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial will be at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon. Friends may call from 3:00 PM - 7:00 PM Friday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 2:15 PM Knights of Columbus rosary and a 2:30 PM scripture service. There will also be a visitation one hour before services Saturday at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred and may be made to St. Patrick Catholic School, Alcoholic Anonymous, or REACH suicide prevention organization.

Ralph Gordon Welch was born September 20, 1932, in rural Waukon to James L. and Mary (Sweeney) Welch. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church in rural Waukon. Ralph graduated from St. Patrick's High School in 1950. He worked in Cedar Rapids, IA, at a grocery store before coming back to Waukon. He worked for Dorf Halverson and did some farming on the side. In 1960, he started working for Service Gas and in 1961, was transferred to a manager's position in Tipton, IA. Moving back to Waukon in 1962, Ralph held the manager's position for Home Gas (which became Empire Gas in 1971) and farmed with his dad on the family farm.

In 1975, Ralph and Howard Duffy started a partnership in fertilizer & chemicals. Ralph bought Howard out in 1985 and started Welch Feed and Fertilizer – where Welch Feed and LP Gas is currently located. In 1993, propane gas and dust control were added to the business. He received many awards and recognition for his outstanding work; Ralph would be fixing furnaces or delivering gas in the middle of the night. Ralph was a very successful business man. When the Olympic torch relay went through Cedar Rapids, IA, on May 26, 1996, his daughter Sherry worked for the city and wanted to find someone who could rebuild and relight the Freedom Torch atop of the Veteran's Coliseum in downtown Cedar Rapids. Because of Ralph's experience with propane, he rebuilt it and had the honor of relighting the torch for the city's big celebration – it was a very special moment for the city, the torch could be seen for miles. Ralph was a very generous man. There would be times in Ralph's life that he would find cash laying on the seat of his pick-up; just someone paying him back for his generosity. Ralph retired in 2000 and sold the business to his son Terry. After retirement he drove for: R.W. Pladsen, West Side Garage, and Hooten's Auto.

He married Joann Hangartner on August 8, 1953, at St. Mary's Lycurgus Catholic Church. They were blessed with seven children: Cindy (Ron) McDowell of De Soto, WI, Sherry Welch of Waukon, Chris (Steve) Weymiller of Harpers Ferry, IA, Terry (Laurie) Welch of Waukon, Jill (Jim) Kiesau of Waukon, Jackie (deceased), and Kim (Amy) Welch of Waukon. Ralph also has 14 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Ralph enjoyed fishing, playing cards, NASCAR racing and local car racing, and had a love for antique cars and tractors. Ralph was a very active member in the antique car club, was a charter member of the 2-cyclinder club, and a club member of the River & Bluff Tractor Club. He was a lifetime and active member of the Knights of Columbus and was Grand Knight for two years. He was very active in his church, both St. Mary's Lycurgus and St. Patrick, where he was an usher and lector for many years. He also enjoyed following the Milwaukee Brewers. He loved his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren; he enjoyed following them in sports. In his later years you could find Ralph competing at a tractor or truck pull, sometimes even winning a trophy.

Ralph was a recovering alcoholic and very active in the Alcoholic Anonymous program. Ralph had a revolving door at his home where people came to Ralph for help or direction or came to thank him for his help. He was willing day or night to help people that needed him. At times there would be extra people at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner who needed a place to be and Ralph always opened his home so they would not be alone. Ralph was always there for his family and friends, willing to help out anyway he could.

Ralph is survived by Joann, his wife of 63 years; his children; grandchildren; and great-grandchildren; his stepmother-in-law Grace Bluck of Preston, MN; one sister Lorraine Adam of Waukon; three sisters-in-law: Leona Welsh of Caledonia, MN, Sandy (Dale) Echard of Monona, IA, and Sandra Hangartner of Waterloo, IA; three brothers-in-law: Duane Scheffert, of Monona, IA, Jack Hangartner of Charles City, IA, and Greg Hangartner of Mauwatasa, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; daughter Jackie; grandson Jamie Ryan; and grandsons infant twin sons of Jill and Jim Kiesau; three brothers: James, Ambrose (Phyllis), and Clem Welch; three sisters-in-law: Joyce (Don) Mork, Judy Scheffert, and Merle Hangartner; three brothers-in-law: Leornard Adam, Bob Welsh, and Jerry Hangartner.

Honorary casketbearers are Dr. David Schwartz and Alcoholic Anonymous members. Casketbearers are John, Jim, and Bill Adam, Jimmy, Charlie, Tom, Tim, and Kevin Welch.