Howard Charles Welsch, 68, of Granite City, Illinois, passed away at 12:17 a.m. on Sunday, January 12, 2025, at his home with his family at his side. He was born November 6, 1956, in St. Louis, Missouri, a son of the late Daniel Joseph and Dorothy (Fauth) Welsch. He married Denise R. (Carr) Welsch on December 17, 2005, at the Pontoon Beach Christian Church.
Howard retired December 31, 2019, from Dealer Information Systems out of Bellingham, Washington, after over 20 years of dedicated service as a Response Line technician. He was a faithful member of the Catholic faith and enjoyed attending St. Elizabeth Catholic Church in Granite City along with his wife. He had a love for music and enjoyed playing the piano, making trips to Branson and listening to country music. He enjoyed traveling, capturing life moments through photography and his days of tinkering with his ham radio.
From his childhood, Howard was known to take on electronic gadgets, taking them completely apart, finding the issues and getting them back to working order. He cherished his family and will be remembered for the love and special times shared with them. In addition to his beloved wife of 19 years, he is survived by two sons and a daughter-in-law, Joseph and Michelle Murray of Louisiana, Missouri, and Daniel Welsch of Winfield, Missouri; a daughter and son-in-law, Amanda and Douglas Lent of Belleville, Illinois; thirteen grandchildren, Joe, Ryan, Julia, Brent, Josh, Joey, Lillian, Naomi, Collin, Tristian, Ryder, Faith and Connor; four brothers and sisters-in-law, Daniel and Hanna Welsch of Diboll, Texas, Michael and Teresa Welsch of St. Peters, Missouri, Paul and Robin Welsch of Herculaneum, Missouri, and Karl and Karen Welsch of St. Peters, Missouri; many nieces and nephews; other extended family and friends. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter-in-law, Ashley Welsch, and a sister and brother-in-law, Donna and David Nickerson.
In celebration of his life, visitation will be at Irwin Chapel, 3960 Maryville Road in Granite City on Thursday, January 16, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 4:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 2300 Pontoon Road in Granite City on Friday, January 17, 2025, from 10:30 a.m. until time of a Funeral Mass at 11:30 a.m. with Father Sylvanus Mushabe as celebrant. Burial will follow at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Edwardsville. Memorials may be made to St. Elizabeth Catholic School or to Masses and may be accepted at the funeral chapel.
