Thomas Edward WELTER

WELTER, LOEBIG, LEERAR, SKITCH, DEGROOTE

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 12/11/2010 at 11:10:19

April 18, 1934 -- April 6, 2004

Corwith City Councilman, Tom E. Welter, died Tuesday, April 6, 2004, at the Muse-Norris Hospice Inpatient Unit in Mason City, Iowa from pancreatic cancer. He was 69. Funeral services were held Monday, April 12, at the St. Patrick's Catholic Church in Britt. The Rev. Jerry Blake officiated. Music was provided by Brenda Smith who accompanied soloist, Judy Weber. Becky Rolling was the lector. Casketbearers were Ivan Frey, Matt Hobschiedt, Merle Sohl, Gary DeGroote, Dan Yeoman and Kurt Kinsey. Burial was in the St, Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Corwith. The Oakcrest Funeral Services were in charge of the arrangements.

Thomas Edward Welter was born on April 18, 1934, to Rufus and Dorothy (Loebig) Welter at Corwith. He attended school at Corwith, graduating in 1953. After school he did carpentry, worked for the City of Corwith and then the Corwith Lumber Company. He was married to Leona Leerar on June 14, 1955. They had one daughter, Cheryl Ann. Tom was a long time business owner of Welter's K & H Service Station, which he had established in 1960, retiring in 1996. Following retirement, Tom enjoyed farming in the spring and fall and also was a part time employee for the City of Corwith.

He served on the Corwith City Council several terms, was a fireman and served as Fire Chief. He was a member of the Corwith Merchants, Knights of Columbus and St. Patricks's Catholic Church at Britt, following closure of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Corwith. Tom's life centered around his wife and daughter, and having lived his entire life in Corwith, Tom was a strong supporter of the community, particularly most recently with the construction of the new City Hall and Library, and the purchase of Christmas lights for Corwith's main street. Tom was an avid golfer and was a member of the Hillside Golf Course and particularly enjoyed his annual trips to Biloxi, Mississippi with his brother, Bob and ten other golfing buddies.

Survivors include his wife, Leona; daughter, Cheryl of Fort Dodge; sister, Dorothy Ann Skitch of Lakewood, California; two brothers, Robert Welter of Mason City and William Welter of LeMars; a brother-in-law, Robert DeGroote of Corwith and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Rufus Charles and Gene LeRoy; one sister, Mary Jane DeGroote; brother-in-law, Doug Skitch; and two sisters-in-law, Jean Welter and Roberta Welter.

The Garner Leader & Signal -- Garner, Iowa
April 14, 2004