James Michael "Mike" Welch Obituary (1944

Mr. James Michael "Mike" Welch , age 76, of Madison, Indiana, entered this life on August 29, 1944 in Louisville, Kentucky. He was the loving son of James Lawrence and Virginia Lou Ball Welch. He resided most all of his life in Jefferson County and was a 1962 graduate of Madison Consolidated High School where he enjoyed playing intramural basketball. He attended Hanover College and then was inducted into the United States Air Force on October 21, 1962 at Bolling Air Force Base. He re-enlisted on October 28, 1966 at Randolph Air Force Base in Texas. He served during the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged on January 21, 1971 at Hamilton Air Force Base in California receiving the Air Force Longevity Service Award with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the Air Force Good Conduct Medal with one Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award with one Oak Leaf Cluster after eight years and three months of service to his country. He was first united in marriage to Loretta Mirwald and this union was blessed with two daughters, Kelly and Kerry. He worked early in life for the Old A&P Store in downtown Madison and later owned several restaurants, including Mike's Place, Dogs and Suds, and Jackson's Restaurants in Madison. On July 1, 1983, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Wanda Sue Sipe in Trimble County, Kentucky. This marriage merged two families together and he was blessed with bonus daughters, Dana and Susan. Mike was employed with the Indiana Kentucky Electric Corporation in 1979 and worked his way up through the ranks and retired in 2004 as the Fire Equipment Maintainer. He also worked as a Catch-A-Ride driver for awhile. Mike enjoyed his cats, Precious and Sammy, plus liked playing euchre and traveling. He attended the Wirt Baptist Church near Madison. Mike died on Sunday, January 31, 2021, at 6:25 p.m. at the Robley Rex Veterans Medical Center in Louisville, Kentucky. Please Click Here to View the Video Tribute Please Click Here to View the Funeral Service Recording A LOVING FAMILY Mike will be missed by his loving wife of 38 years, Wanda Sue Sipe Welch of Madison, Indiana; his loving mother, Virginia Lou Ball Welch of Madison, Indiana; his loving daughters, Kelly Farrow and her husband, John of Edmond, Oklahoma, Kerry Lyons and her husband, Chris of Madison, Indiana; his step daughters, Dana Riddle of Madison, Indiana, Susan Burleson and her husband, Berry of Milton, Kentucky; his grandchildren, Bryan Mateer, Andy Mateer, Katie Mateer, Mitchell Shaw, and Christian Lyons; his step grandchildren, Candace Lyons, Clayton Rowlison, Morgan Rowlison; his five great grandchildren; his one step great grandson; his loving sister, Frances "Franny" Kay Welch Phillips and her husband, Gary of Dupont, Indiana; his sisters in law, Ginny Welch of Madison, Indiana, Ruth Ann Welch of Corydon, Indiana, Connie Mahoney and her husband, Bob Robbins of Madison, Indiana, Dru Cox of Rushville, Indiana, Jeanette Stiers of Milroy, Indiana; his brothers in law, Wilmer Robbins and his wife, Mary of Metamora, Indiana, James "J.D." Robbins of Mesa, Arizona; his aunts, Ruth Welch of Lakeland, Florida, Patsy Abbott of Bedford, Kentucky, Sondra Ayler and her husband, Fred of Manville, Indiana, Sue Ball of Madison, Indiana; several nieces, nephews and other relatives. He was preceded in death by his father, James Lawrence Welch, died March 11, 1999, his brothers, Arthur Kevin Welch, died September 5, 1960, Mayor Damon Lee Welch, died September 25, 2019, and Gary Ball Welch, died February 1, 2021, his niece, Dawnna K. Schoolcraft Bowen, died January 20, 1996, his nephew, Damon Eric Schoolcraft, died December 25, 1968, his great nephew, Jon Michael Schoolcraft, III, died January 18, 2008, his sister in law, Della Treneer, his grandparents, Ora and Rosa Wingham Welch and Collin Alvin and Elba Frances Thompson Ball. FUNERAL CEREMONY Funeral services will be conducted Monday, February 15, 2021, at 11:00 a.m., by Pastor Troy Hedges at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. Interment will follow in the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison, Indiana. VISITATION Friends may visit Sunday from 4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre, 325 Demaree Drive in Madison, Indiana. MILITARY HONORSA final salute with military honors will be provided by the Major Samuel Woodfill Post No. 9 of the American Legion on Monday at 11:30 a.m. at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centre with military honors to follow at the Indiana Veterans Memorial Cemetery Chapel, 1415 North Gate Road in Madison. MEMORIAL EXPRESSIONS Memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer's Association. Cards are available at the Morgan & Nay Funeral Centres of Madison and Hanover. Online condolences, remembrances and memorials can be left at www.morgan-nay.com Send A Care Basket or Custom Candle Make An Online Memorial Donation To send a flower arrangement in memory of James Michael "Mike" Welch, please click here to visit our sympathy store.