James F.

Welch

James F. Welch, 74, Lake Mills, formerly of Marshfield, died on Thursday, September 28, 2017, at the Rainbow Hospice Inpatient Center in Johnson Creek.

He was born on May 10, 1943, in Duluth, MN, the son of the late Basil and Dorothy (Siegel) Welch.

Jim married Vicki Zimmerman on March 28, 2015, in Pierson, FL.

He was a graduate of Regis High School in Eau Claire, class of 1961, and then went on to earn his Master's Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy at UW-Stout.

He worked first as a social worker for Wood County, WI, for 7 years, and then as a Marriage and Family Therapist for over 25 years, proudly having his own practice for 16 years.

Jim was a longtime member of St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in Marshfield; a Scoutmaster with Boy Scouts of America Troop 390 in Hewitt-Auburndale, WI, for 10 years; a board member of ADRC of Central Wisconsin; and an avid member of the Ice Age Trail Alliance (of which he hiked 800 of the 1000 miles).

Jim Welch had the gift of gab and a way with people; in 2008 he kissed the Blarney Stone, which was probably unnecessary. More importantly, he lived his life every day in a way which reflected his deep caring for those around him.

Survivors include his wife, Vicki Zimmerman of Lake Mills; his children, Matt (Julia) of Prairie du Sac, Amy Olga (Gerald) Asp of Milwaukee, Samuel of La Crosse, John (Dana) of Madison; their mother, Marie Olga Knusta-Welch of Hewitt; three step-children, Daniel Flood of Vernon Hills, IL, Mark (Connie) Flood, Jayme (Laura) Flood, both of Lake Mills; 13 grandchildren; two sisters, Judy (Mike) Friedman of Woodbury, MN, Pat (Jim) Hallquist of Chetek, WI; other relatives and friends; acquaintances; and occasional passers-by who encountered his whimsy and random, slightly absurd acts. He embarrassed his children often, for which they remain eternally grateful, as they learned better how to handle the more difficult task of coping when they inevitably embarrassed themselves. His children carry on that tradition with Jim's grandchildren.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 4, 2017 at the St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Lake Mills with Father David Wanish as celebrant.

Friends may call after 10 a.m. on Wednesday until the time of mass.

If desired, memorials may be made to Rainbow Hospice or the Ice Age Trail Alliance (www.iceagetrail.org).

www.claussenfuneralhome.com
www.iceagetrail.org