Jack Lee Welch

Jack Lee Welch was born Feb. 17, 1938, the third of four children, to Linus “Jake” and Elda (Swanson) Welch in Imperial, Nebraska. He passed away on Jan. 18, 2023, at the age of 84, in Imperial.
Jack attended the Champion EUB church as a child where he was first baptized. In 1968, he became a member of the Imperial Evangelical United Brethren church, where he was baptized a second time.  This church later became the First United Methodist Church where Jack remained a member all of his life.
Jack began grade school in the Prairie Gem area of rural Chase County and later moved to Champion where he completed grade school. He graduated in 1955 from Chase County High School. During high school, Jack was proud to earn his Eagle Scout award and boxed as part of the Champion Boxing Club.
During grade school and high school summers, Jack worked for a number of farmers. After graduation, Jack was employed at Frenchman Valley Co-op where he became Feed Mill Superintendent.  He then went on to work for the Nebraska Department of Roads for 33 years, until he retired in 1999 as Senior Maintenance Foreman.
On Feb. 18, 1961, Jack was united in marriage to Karen Meyer, and the couple made their home in Imperial where they lived for the next 62 years.  In 1968, they adopted Rick at the age of six weeks, and in 1979, their daughter Melissa was born.
Jack thoroughly enjoyed watching football, especially the Huskers, and he was a lifelong New York Yankees fan. One of his most recent joys was taking money from his nephew Mike, $1 at a time.  They bet on whatever sporting event was on TV, but Jack’s winning secret was to be able to pick the favored team first.
Jack and his cat, Bailey, had a special bond as she joined him as his sidekick in watching westerns, and Gunsmoke never grew old. His past hobbies included golfing, softball and baseball, playing cards, bowling, hunting, fishing, as well as collecting marbles.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, Linus and Elda Welch; son Rick Welch; brother Dwight Welch; sister Beverly Claney; sister-in-law Jean Welch; nephew Jim Welch; sister-in-law Connie and husband Ron Tellier; and father and mother-in-law, Clayton and Iva Mae Meyer.
Those missing him greatly are his wife, Karen; daughter Melissa (Josh) Oamek of Fort Calhoun; brother Don Welch of Imperial; brother-in-law Richard (Lynn) Meyer of Imperial; sister-in-law Elvina (Dale) Hiatt of Carrollton, Texas; nieces and nephews; great nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral service for Jack Welch was held Tuesday, Jan. 24, 10:30 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church of Imperial, with Pastor Debra Copple officiating. Interment will follow at Mount Hope Cemetery, Imperial.
Visitation was held Monday, Jan. 23, 2–6 p.m. at Liewer Funeral Home, Imperial.
A memorial, in Jack’s memory, has been suggested to the Welch Family for a future designation.
Online condolences may be left at liewerfuneralhome.com.
Liewer Funeral Home is entrusted with arrangements.