Jimmy (Jim) Welle

Jim A. Welle was born March 20, 1936 to Glen and Viola (Erickson) Welle at Webb, Iowa. He was the oldest of four children. At age 3, Jim’s family moved to a farm at Greenville, Iowa, where he grew up and went to school at the Greenvill Rossie schools. He attended William Penn College at Oskaloosa, IA, for 2 years, he then went into the US Air Force for 4 years. On August 25, 1957, he was married to Nancy McLellan at Spencer, IA. They had 2 daughters, Linda and Susan. After he returned from the Air Force in 1963, he went to work for the Caterpillar dealer in Fort Dodge, IA, as a diesel mechanic. In 1977 he transferred to Spencer, IA, to take over the field mechanic position there. In 1982, he went to work for Dickinson County, IA, as their head mechanic and worked there until he retired in 1998. Jim and Nancy moved to West Okoboji, IA, in 1986. They made many memories over the next 24 years with their children and 6 grandchildren on Lake Okoboji. In 2010, they moved to Tracy, MN, to be near Susan and her family. Jim was a true servant of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He loved the Lord and His Word and shared Jesus with all those he knew. He was active in every church he was a member of, most recently Lake Sarah Baptist Church. Over the years he taught Sunday School, was a church leader, sang in the choir, worked in Awana and on many occasions grilled for church events on the grill he had built. He had a beautiful singing voice. For 30 years he has served the Lord in a Nursing Home ministry, through Bible studies, singing hymns and preaching from God’s Word. He loved the residents and they loved him. Jim enjoyed wood working, gardening, fishing, inventing and building with iron. He was a very talented welder and mechanic and had to customize nearly everything he purchased. Jim used his many talents in helping others. He enjoyed playing games and cards with his family. Jim was a devoted, faithful husband, loving caring father and grandfather, a frien to everyone and a genuine joy to be around. Jim passed away suddenly on Friday, May 9, 2015 at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD, at the age of 79. He is survived by his wife Nancy of 57 years; two daughters: Linda McDaniel of Des Moines, IA, and her children Amanda (Marcus) Frerk and Jonathon; Susan (Terry) Nelson of Tracy, MN, and their children Thomas, Asa, Jessica and Tony; two brothers: Ric (Marta) of Punta Gorda, FL; Ken (Linda) of Boyceville, WI and numerous relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Karen. Wednesday, May 13, 2015 4:00 PM - 8:00 PM Thursday, May 14, 2015 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM Thursday, May 14, 2015 11:00 AM Thursday, May 14, 2015