WELSH, William "Bill" --- 1929-2011

ZOLL, WELSH, WEBER, KELLEHER, SMERUD, VAN BIESEL, NORMAN, SANDRY, MOORE, COTA

Posted By: IA GenWeb Volunteer
Date: 3/27/2011 at 10:48:26

William Welsh

William “Bill” P. Welsh, 81, of Lansing died Thursday, February 24, 2011 at his home. Funeral services were held Saturday, February 26 at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Lansing. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Bill was born April 3, 1929 in Hanover Township to Patsy and Mary (Zoll) Welsh. He moved to French Creek Township in 1933, where he grew up with his 10 siblings. He attended French Creek #5 Elementary School and graduated from St. Patrick’s High School in 1946. Bill worked as a farm laborer until he enlisted in the Air Force in 1951, where he served as a medic and an instructor in chemical and biological warfare until 1953.
October 25, 1953, Bill married Esther “Essie” Weber, daughter of John and Leona (Kelleher) Weber, at Immaculate Conception Parish in Lansing. They began their farming career in Hanover before moving to Churchtown, where they farmed for 45 years. Bill retired in 1997 and he and Essie moved to Lansing.
Bill was a long-time active member of the Immaculate Conception Parish in Lansing. He served on the National Organic Standards Board and volunteered many hours educating and supporting organic farmers both nationally and internationally. Bill was also instrumental in the founding and success of the farmers’ cooperative, Organic Prairie.
Bill is survived by his wife, Essie; his children (and their spouses), Janice Smerud, Barbara, Greg (Faye Rogers), Gary (Kim Sandry), Jean (Van Biesel), Rose (Mark Norman), Mike (Lisa Halverson), and Mary (Bob Sandry); his 24 grandchildren; and his two great-grandchildren, Adelynn and Serenity. He is also survived by eight of his siblings, Kay (Earl Moore) of New Albin, Bob (Leona) of Caledonia, MN, Mary Lou (Bob Cota) of Harpers Ferry, Daniel (Sarah) of Waukon, Lloyd (Betty) of Lansing, Bernard (Carolynn) of Waukon, Ida (Bob Gonsalves) of San Jose, CA and Jerry (Maralyn) of Lansing.
Bill was preceded in death by his parents; an infant son, Mark; infant siblings Margaret, Edward and twins Eileen and Darlene; a sister, Bernadine (Heffern); a sister, Alice, and her husband, Cliff Armstrong; a sister-in-law, Jeanne; and his grandchildren, Samuel Christopher Welsh and Mary Esther Colvin.

Waukon Standard, March 2, 2011

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