Welter, Gerald “Jerry” Peter, age 95, resident of Minnetonka for the past 56 years, was born October 28, 1923 on a farm in Chanhassen Minnesota and died January 9, 2019 at Fairview Southdale Hospital in Edina, Minnesota. He was a great man and his mind remained sharp until his final days. Jerry was married to the love of his life and best friend, Mary Ellen (Dunn) Welter for almost 69 years. Together they raised 7 children. Jerry was preceded in death by his wife; daughter, Martha (“Marty”); parents, John and Agnes Welter; and 8 siblings, Eleanore (Sr. Linnea, OSB), Dorothy, Helen, Gus, Esther (Sr. Michelle, OSB), Jim, Norbert and Janice and their spouses. Jerry is survived by his children, Greg (Mary Ann), Bob (Debbie), Gary (Harriett), Mary Kay, Lisa (Dean), and Jo (Steven). He so loved his many grandchildren and great- grandchildren. Jerry grew up on the family farm where he learned the virtues of commitment and hard work. These virtues were evident in how he pursued his many passions, his career and his deep knowledge on a vast array of topics. He was generous, selfless and the first to offer help to others. His passions and accomplishments included: learning to fly a plane by the age of 18, active and founding member of the Minneapolis Gun Club (1968), Minneapolis Skeet Shooting Association “Hall of Fame” recipient (1983), hunting, bowling, intense cribbage player, crossword puzzle addict and more. Jerry confidently served (with justifiable insubordination) in The United States Army Air Forces during World War II, & co-founded “Welter and Blaylock”, a Bloomington company that installed plumbing in new homes in Burnsville, Woodbury, Minneapolis and Bloomington between 1955 and 1981. After retiring he volunteered full-time for 20 years at the American Diabetes Association. He loved to tell stories of his many adventures. One of our favorites is how he would recall in vivid detail, and with a smile on his face, his first date with mom “Mary was a last-minute substitute for a blind date” he would then chuckle as he continued with the story. They were engaged and married within the year. Dad was our true north. He was a caring and giving man. Through his grace, and his daily words and actions, he made the world a better place. Dad will be greatly missed and forever loved by his family and friends. We have much appreciation for the caregivers at The Glenn Minnetonka. We also extend our gratitude to the following angels from Alina Hospice who worked as a team over the past 11 months to deliver healing care to dad’s body and soul: Nurses: Susie and Rachel, Social Workers: Jan and Jill and Chaplin: Mary. Jerry’s life will be celebrated with a memorial service at 11 am on Tuesday January 15, 2019 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church 13505 Excelsior Boulevard, Minnetonka, MN 55345. Visitation with the family will occur one hour prior to the service; with a toast to honor his life and some refreshments afterward. Interment will occur at a future date in a private service. Jerry had an unwavering faith in God. For memorials, please consider a donation to the Glenn Benevolence Fund, benefiting residents of The Glenn whose personal finances are no longer sufficient to cover their housing needs, to be sent to The Glenn, Office of Development, 5300 Woodhill Rd, Minnetonka, MN 55345. Washburn-McReavy.com Strobeck-Johnson 952-938-9020
Published on January 13, 2019