Obituary of Jerry Welle

Services for Mr. Jerry Welle, 83 of Milford, Iowa will be held on Thursday, April 20, 2017 at First Lutheran Church of West Okoboji at 10:30am. Interment will be at North Lawn Cemetery in Spencer. A visitation will be held at Turner Jenness Funeral Home in Milford on Wednesday, April 19, 2017 after 4:00pm with the family present from 5-7pm. Jerry Welle, 83, of Milford passed away Easter Sunday, April 16 at the Hawkeye Care Center in Milford, following a lingering illness. Jerry was born in Spencer on March 30, 1934, the third of 11 children of Lester and Pearl (Arms) Welle. He grew up in rural Milford, graduating from Okoboji Consolidated School of rural Milford in 1951. He served in the U.S. Army from 1956 through 1958 and in the Spencer unit of the Iowa National Guard, upon returning from Germany, through 1961. He was united in marriage to Charlotte Pixler on Jan. 30, 1960. To this union six children were born: James, Brian, Marcia, Melinda, Damon and Jerry Jacob. Damon died in an accident on the family farm southwest of Milford on Nov. 15, 1969. On Sept. 8, 1973 he married Doris Gonnerman and added her three young children to the family: Michele (Shelli), Todd and Chad Gonnerman. Jerry married Roseanne Gifford on Jan. 2, 2005. They continued to live on the farm. Jerry served on the Dickinson County Farm Bureau Board of Directors for several years and was a 4-H leader. He enjoyed riding his motorcycle, four wheeling and loved snowmobiling. He also liked boating and played on a slow-pitch softball team for several years. Along with cousin Russ Arms, he chaperoned several high school science club trips around the United States. They also delivered motor homes throughout the country and rode RAGBRAII. He loved dancing with Roseanne and their winters in Arizona. The couple were members of First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji. Jerry is survived by his wife Roseanne; children: Jim (Susan) of Anchorage, Alaska; Brian of Spirit Lake; Marcia (Melissa Cox) of Georgetown, Kentucky; Melinda (Phillip Leone) of Oakhurst, New Jersey; Shelli (Brian Masek) of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Todd (Kia) of Milford; Chad of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; J. J. of Milford. He is also survived by grandchildren: Amber Welle of Algona; Quinn and Grant Masek of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; Michael Gonnerman of Milford; Ava Welle of Alton; Rezy, Jason and Mellisa Welle of Anchorage, Alaska; great-grandchildren: Kaylyn, Ayanna, Olivia, D.J., Charlie, Jaya Lee, Violet, Zoey and Deanna in Alaska. Additional survivors are seven siblings: Jeannine Winter of Fostoria, DeAnne Van Enter of Fostoria; Dean of Florida; Bill of Spencer; Bonnie Gilbertson of Apache Junction, Arizona; Dave and Bob of Milford; Roseanne's children: Bryan Gifford of Estherville; Julie (Vaughn) Borchardt and Sharon (Rod) Bierle of Fenton; 11 grandchildren and eleven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, son Damon, and three brothers: LeRoy (Bud), John and Mike.