Ralph Welch

Ralph G. Welch, 84, of Waukon passed away peacefully with his family by his side Tuesday, March 28, 2017 at Gundersen Health System in La Crosse, WI. Funeral services were held Saturday, April 1 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Mark Osterhaus officiating. Burial was at St. Mary's Lycurgus Cemetery, rural Waukon.

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 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. 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 and 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 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 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, 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-cylinder 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 any way he could.

Ralph is survived by Joann, his wife of 63 years; his children; grandchildren; 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 and Sandra Hangartner of Waterloo; three brothers-in-law: Duane Scheffert of Monona, Jack Hangartner of Charles City and Greg Hangartner of Mauwatasa, WI; and many nieces and nephews.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents; his daughter, Jackie; his grandson, Jamie Ryan; infant twin grandsons who were 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; and three brothers-in-law: Leonard Adam, Bob Welsh and Jerry Hangartner.

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

Online condolences may be left at www.martinfunerals.com.