RAYMOND JOHN WELCH, 68, PUTNAM, ILLINOIS

GRAVESIDE SERVICE: 2:00 P.M. SATURDAY JUNE 16, 2007 ~ MOUND CEMETERY, RURAL JASPER COUNTY, IL

MEMORIAL: LUTHERAN SOCIAL SERVICE - ATTN: KATRINA RELIEF / OCEAN SPRINGS & BILOXI, MS - Envelopes at Service or may be mailed to Pulliam Funeral Home, P.O. Box 121, Oblong, Illinois 62449

MILITARY RITES: Conducted by Oblong American Legion Post #219

 

Raymond John Welch, 68, Putnam, Illinois passed away March 2, 2007, at the Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, California following a brief illness during winter vacation. Born May 19, 1938, in Fremont, Iowa he was the son of John Welch and Vivian (Scherman) Welch. On August 15, 1964, he married Barbara Hargis who is the daughter of Don & Mildred Rae (Lanter) Hargis formerly of Oblong. Raymond and Barbara made their home at Lake Thunderbird, in Putnam Co., Illinois since retiring in 1995.

Raymond was raised on a farm near Fremont, in southeastern Iowa. He moved to Illinois and attended Olivet Nazarene College in Kankakee. He served in the U. S. Army in Germany. He worked as a millwright at Caterpillar Tractor Company in Joliet, IL. Raymond was a scout master for many years in Kankakee. He was a member of the American Legion in Henry, IL. Raymond loved to travel and made friends wherever he went. He loved to collect rocks, help people, fish, cook, and bake bread. He loved auctions, garage sales, tractor pulls and going out for coffee. He was deeply moved by the plight of the victims of hurrican Katrina and volunteered at a Lutheran disaster relief center in Mississippi, at Ocean Springs (Nov. - Dec. 2005) and Biloxi (Dec. 2006).

Raymond is preceded in death by his parents, and one sister, Delourese (Welch) Kanouse. Survivors include his wife, Barbara; one son, Wesley John Welch; one daughter, Wendy Rae Welch; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Ronald & Sue Welch and Ralph & Judy Welch; and one sister, Virginia (Welch) Haggard.

Burial will be in Mound Cemetery, rural Jasper County, Illinois.