Ionia County MI Archives Obituaries.....Welch, John B. May 25, 1965
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Nan Wheaton wheaton1624@yahoo.com May 11, 2014, 4:46 pm

Ionia Sentinel-Standard – Wed. May 26, 1965

J. B. Welch Dies at Hospital

John B. Welch, 82, Ronald township farmer, sheep dog breeder and veteran Ionia 
county supervisor, died at 11:55 p.m. Tuesday at Ionia County Memorial hospital 
where he had been a patient three weeks.

He lapsed into a coma during the weekend.

A native of Longton, Kansas, he was the son of Amos M. and Emma Welch, moving 
to Ionia when he was less than one year old. The family moved to Michigan and 
lived in Ionia township until 1915 when they purchased the present farm in 
Ronald township.

Mr. Welch, a staunch Democrat in a hard core Republican township, served his 
township in several capacities including its supervisor for 30 years. He often 
remarked that as the “Jim Farley” of Ronald township he was equally popular 
with Republicans and Democrats. He had served with distinction on the board of 
supervisors and had been its chairman. He retired in 1963 after 30 years 
township supervisor.

On November 24, 1907, he was married to Leah Rogers in Grand Rapids, who 
survives. Mr. and Mrs. Welch had celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 
1957. Mrs. Welch has likewise been ill for several years and is presently 
living at the Ionia Manor.

Mr. Welch served for nearly half a century as superintendent of the sheep 
department of Ionia free fair. He had been a breeder of sheep for many years 
and later raised sheep dogs which he trained. He appeared at numerous fairs 
with his trained sheep dogs giving exhibitions of their ability. He had 
appeared at the Ionia free fair on numerous occasions with his dogs.

Mr. Welch served as one of the original directors of Ionia County Soil 
Conservation commission for more than 14 years. He belonged to the Ronald 
Grange and Ionia county Farm Bureau and was a life member of the Ionia Elks and 
Palo dodge F.&A.M. He was a member of the First Christian church in ionia.

Surviving are his wife, Leah; a son, Amos M. Welch with whom Mr. Welch had 
operated the large Ronald township farm, a granddaughter, three great-
grandchildren; two brothers, Henry T. and A. Palmer Welch, both of Ionia.

Funeral services will be at the First Christian church at 2 p.m. Friday. The 
body will remain at the Stone-Kauffman funeral home until noon Friday. 
Interment will be at Highland Park cemetery in Ionia township.

A memorial is being established for Mr. Welch.






Additional Comments:
Highland Park Cemetery

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