James Francis (Jim) Welp, of Flagstaff, Arizona, passed away from natural causes on Tuesday, May 24, 2022, just four weeks shy of his 90th birthday.
Jim was born on June 21, 1932 in Bancroft, Iowa to Joseph Herman Welp II and Bernice (Wilhelmi) Welp. He attended St. John the Baptist Catholic School inBancroft, Iowa, through grade 10, then completed high school at St. Thomas Military Academy in St Paul, MN. He graduated from University of Iowa in 1956 witha degree in Commerce and Business. On November 27, 1954, Jim and Margery (Ruth) Woolley were married at St. Mary’s Church in Fredericksburg, Virginia. They were married for 67 years.
Jim served 2 years in the US Army and was stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina. In 1958, Jim began managing the Welp Feed Mill andGrain Elevator in Bancroft, while his brothers Donald J. Welp and Joseph H. (Joey) Welp III, took care of theWelp’sHatchery side of the business. Over the nextthreedecades, Welp, Inc. expandedoperations to become an international business. All three brothers farmed their family land, usually with corn and soybeans.
In 1961, after living in Algona, IA for a few years, Jim and his family moved into a house in Bancroft that was built across the alley from the house in which Jimwas born. Known for being an ace pitcher for neighborhood baseball games, Jim also enjoyed playing football, chasing games, and card games with his children, nephews,nieces, friends, and especially with his grandchildren. Being a gadget-guy, Jim loved giving kids rides on his motorized vehicles - whether it was a lawnmower,scooter, snowmobile, tractor, truck, boat or camper. Jim was very involved with local community events such as Chamber of Commerce and Knights of Columbuspancake breakfasts, parades, picnics, and setting off fireworks for the 4th of July. He helped get the North Kossuth County Golf Course started and once hit thehighlight of his golfing career by getting a hole-in-one!
Jim continued with his part of the family business until he retired in 1987. After a few nomadic years traveling around the country in an RV to visit family andfriends, Jim and Ruth settled in Prescott, AZ where Jim became an avid hiker. He frequently led hiking groups through the hills surrounding Prescott. In 2021, theymoved to Flagstaff to be closer to their oldest daughter, Lori and her family.
Jim is survived by his wife, Margery Ruth Welp (b 1936) of Flagstaff, AZ, and 4 children, 11 grandchildren and 3 great-grandchildren:
- Lorraine Ruth (Welp) Kruse,married to Dennis Kruse; their daughter Audrey Lee Kruse married to Jason Wahl of Flagstaff, AZ; and their son Alexander James Kruse, married to Hannah ListonKruse and sons Monte Strider Kruse and Tucker Bon Kruse of Torquay, Australia.
- Linda Diane (Welp) Baker, married to John Mitchell Baker of Chicago, IL; their daughter Catherine Ann (Baker) Orleans married to Alex Orleans, of Leesburg,VA; and their son Gregory John Baker and his fiancé Rebecca Neuman of Chicago, IL.
- James Edward Welp, married to Linda (Ontko) Welp; their sons: Zachary James Welp married to Nina (Vrbancic) Welp, and daughter Eloise Grace Welp ofCincinnati, OH; and Gabriel Adam Welp of Chicago, IL.
- Jeanette (Welp) Asa, married to Steven A. Jones; and her children, Imogene Samira Asa and Samuel Austin Asa, of Chicago, IL.
- Cindy (Dickman) Welp, married to Steven James Welp (dec.); and their children, Trevor James Welp, Madalyn JoAnn Welp, and Tyler Lee Welp of Sioux City, IA.
Also surviving are Jim’s two brothers; Donald J. Welp (b 1934) and Sarah (Everingham) Welp of Estes Park, CO; and Joseph H (Joey) Welp III (b 1947) and BonnieWood Welp of Tuscon, AZ.
Jim is preceded in death by his father, Joseph Herman Welp (1901-1989); his mother, Bernice Anna Wilhelmi (1905-1995); his sister Diane Rose (Welp) Lensing(1935-2011); and his son, Steven James Welp (1968-2011).
Rest in Peace, Husband, Dad, Grandpa, Gramps, and Great-Grandpa. Perhaps heaven haspecan pie! We'll miss you. We love you.
His life will be honored at a Memorial Celebration to be held via Zoom on June 18, 2022 at 11:00 am MST. His ashes will be dispersed in a nearby area where heenjoyedhiking. Condolences can be posted onwww.norvelowensmortuary.com. If you’d like to participate in the Zoom call, please send your email address to[emailprotected]
Memorial donations in James F. Welp's name may be made to:
Macular Degeneration Research athttp://donate.brightfocus.org/mdr/donate
or mailed to Macular Degeneration Research, 22512 Gateway Center Drive, Clarksburg, MD 20871.
