Gerald A. Welch, 85, Marshfield, died on Monday, August 3, 2015 at his home in Marshfield.

A Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am on Tuesday, August 11, 2015 at Sacred Catholic Church with Rev. Savarimuthu Selvaraj and Deacon Ray Draeger officiating. Burial will take place at a later date in Brooklawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in the Town of Richfield, Wood County. Military rites will be conducted by the American Legion Post 54 at Sacred Heart Church following the service. The family will receive relatives and friends on Tuesday at Sacred Heart Church from 9:00 am until service time. Rembs Funeral Home is assisting the family.

Gerald was born on September 24, 1929 in the Township of Spencer, to Rollo and Theresa (Weis) Welch. He attended Marshfield High School and received his honorary diploma in 2003. He was a veteran of the United States Army serving from 1946 until 1948. He married Donna A. Eckes on July 1, 1950 at St. John’s Catholic Church.

Jerry was employed at shoe factories in Marshfield and Antigo. In 1957 the Welchs moved to Sturgeon Bay where he was employed at Milwaukee Shoe Company until 1971 when they owned and operated Welch True Value Hardware Store in Chili. After the Welchs sold the store Jerry drove for the Marshfield Clinic and Dental Crafters.

He enjoyed spending time at the cabin and with his family.

He is survived by his wife of 65 years, Donna, and their children, Dennis (Mary) Welch of Mukwanago, Douglas (Kim) Welch of Sturgeon Bay, Kenneth “Zip” Welch of Marshfield, Wendy (Bob) Martin of Chili, Gary (Cindy) Welch of Sturgeon Bay, Kathy (Lavern) Roehl of Marshfield, Patty (Greg Bodendorfer) Kaiser of Marshfield, Donna (Jeff) Allington of Oconomowoc, Carol Welch of Wisconsin Rapids, Michael (Radha) Welch of Granton, Cheryl (Tom Biebel) Greenwood Biebel of DePere and Joyce Benson of Mosinee. He is also survived by 29 grandchildren and many great grandchildren.  He is further survived by 3 sisters, Clara (Jerry) Sauer of DePere, Joan Fait of Marshfield, and Iris Guensberg of Marshfield, sisters-in-law, Bernice Welch of Marshfield, Elaine Hubatch of Long Beach CA, and Sandy Eckes of Rice Lake, and Pearl Eckes of Marshfield and brother-in-law, Kenneth (Rose) Eckes of Weyerhaeuser.

He was predeceased by his parents, two brothers, Orman “Joe” and DuWayne Welch and brothers-in-law, Jerry Guensberg, Stan Fait, LaVerne “Hubie” Hubatch, Arnie Eckes, a sister-in-law and brother-in-laws, Sis and George Keoberl and Ronnie Eckes.

Memorials may be designated for Alzheimer’s research.

Condolences may be sent online to www.rembsfh.com.