Carl Welker

Carl L. Welker, age 80, of Litchfield, MN, died Saturday, November 1, 2008 at his home in Litchfield, MN. A memorial service will be held at 1:00 PM on Friday, November 7, 2008, at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Litchfield, MN with Pastor Paul Lindhorst officiating. Visitation will be held from 4:00 - 7:00 PM on Thursday at Johnson-Hagglund Funeral Home in Litchfield, MN and will continue one hour prior to the memorial service. Interment will be in the Ripley Cemetery in Litchfield, MN. Military Honors will be provided by the Litchfield Military Honor Guard. Carl Lee Welker, the son of Herbert and Ellen (Anderson) Welker, was born on August 26, 1928, in Harris, Iowa. He began his education near Ocheyedan, Iowa where his family farmed until 1935, when they moved to a farm north east of Litchfield, MN. He continued his education at School District #13 and graduated from Litchfield High School in 1946. After graduation he entered the Military and served in The Army Occupation Forces in Nara and Kobe, Japan in 1947 and 1948. On August 10, 1949 he married Doris Minks of Cosmos, MN. They lived in Litchfield, MN. Carl worked for 13 years at Weber Implement until its closing in 1961. He then was employed at Reinke Sheet Metal as a Welder. After taking a heating and air conditioning course at Dunwoody Institute he worked for a few years as a Furnace Service Man. The company began manufacturing tractor cab and roll bars and changed its name to Custom Products. Carl designed Cozy Cabs, Roll Bars, and Safety Structures of Off Highway and Industrial Equipment until his retirement in 1993. Since retiring he has enjoyed restoring old tractors. Carl was always interested in music. In high school he sang in choruses and glee clubs, played with the High School Band and the Drum and Bugle Corp. He was a member of St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church and sang with the church choir for 62 years. He was a charter member of the Litchfield Area Male Chorus and sang with them for 36 years. He was a member of Admiral Benson Post #2818 and The Nelsan-Horton Amerian Legion Post #104. Carl is survived by his wife Doris of Litchfield, MN; sons Richard (and Mary) Welker of Melbourne, FL, Robert (and Tammy) Welker of Canby, MN, Donald (and Sharon) Welker of Litchfield, David Welker (and friend Cindy Rick) of Litchfield; daughters Di Ann (and Sidney) Lund of Litchfield, MN, and Kim Sheets (and friend David Schwich) of Green Isle, MN; brother Lawrence Welker of Litchfield; sister Loretta Becker of Olivia, MN; brother-in-law Leroy Runke of Stewart;17 grandchildren; and 13 great grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Ellen; a sister Betty Runke; sister-in-law Marlys Welker; and great grandson Alexander.