Allen R Welch

Funeral Services for Allen R. Welch will be conducted from the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, Nebraska on Monday, February 23, 2009 at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend Dr. W. Kirwin Stewart, Jr. officiating. Interment will be on Tuesday, February 24, 2009 at 1:00 p.m. (Mountain Time) at the Otis Cemetery in Otis, Colorado with Randy Feather, CLP, officiating.

Allen Ray Welch, 87 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2009 at the Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney, Nebraska. Allen was born March 23, 1921 near Platteville in Weld County, Colorado, the third of five children of Claude and Gretchen (McNeil) Welch. He grew up in Colorado and was baptized in the Presbyterian Church in Otis. He attended the Welch School in Washington County, Colorado through the eighth grade and graduated from Otis High School with the class of 1939. Allen engaged in farming until his induction into the U.S. Navy on July 19, 1941. He served his country during WW II on the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Enterprise in the South Pacific and received twelve battle stars with his comrades. He was honorably discharged on June 14, 1945. During the war, Allen was united in marriage to Betty "Maxine" McCreath on August 1, 1943 at Allen's parent's home in Otis and to this union four children were born: Carol, Dwayne, Elaine and Faydean. Allen was employed as a meat cutter for various grocery stores in Colorado for 15 years. In 1969, Allen and Maxine moved to Holdrege, where he worked for the McClymont Elevator for five years. Allen then worked as an electrician for Erickson Electric for 12 years and retired in 1984.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Holdrege, was a life member of the V.F.W. and the D.A.V. and enjoyed camping, fishing and woodworking.

He leaves to mourn his passing his wife, Maxine of Holdrege; three children: Carol Heltenberg and her husband, Raymond of Yuma, Colorado, Dwayne Welch and his wife, Mary of Loveland, Colorado, and Elaine Ward and her husband, Alvin of Riverton, Wyoming; 10 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; one sister, Marjory (Welch) O'Neal of LaSalle, Colorado; two sisters-in-law, Lois Welch of Grand Junction, Colorado and Fern Welch of Sterling, Colorado and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Besides his parents, Allen was preceded in death by one daughter, Faydean Lynn Welch in infancy; one grandson, Rodney Heltenberg; one great-granddaughter, Chante` Butcher; two brothers: Bill Welch and Ronald M. Welch; and one sister, Edna Rains and her husband, Charles.

Allen will lie in state at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege on Sunday, February 22, 2009 from 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. with the family greeting from 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

A memorial has been established in his memory and kindly suggested to the First Presbyterian Church of Holdrege, the Presbyterian Church in Otis, Colorado or the Holdrege Senior Center.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home of Holdrege is in charge of arrangements.