James “Jim”Welker

August 4, 1934 — June 2, 2026

O’Fallon, IL

James “Jim” Welker, of O’Fallon, Illinois, passed away peacefully early Tuesday morning, June 2, 2026 at the Liberty Village Medical Center in Maryville, Illinois.

Jim was born in Mansfield, Ohio to Anna (nee Vasilovic) and Harry L. Welker. Jim always valued work, and at the age of 9 he began his first of many jobs when he became a newspaper delivery boy, operating what was then the largest newspaper route in the city. Before attending college, he held the positions of golf caddy, construction worker, factory worker, and driver of a beer truck that delivered to bars and restaurants in his hometown of Mansfield. He attended Mansfield High School where he participated in his great passion for sports by playing on the football and golf teams. Jim also played football in college at Ohio Wesleyan University. Football, and particularly golf, became major interests throughout his life. He was happy to have hit a hole in one, and in later years he was proud of having reached his goal of obtaining a golf score that was equal to his age.

Jim also attended Ohio University where he met the love of his life, Rosalie W. Powell of Princeton, West Virginia, during a fraternity (Sigma Chi) mixer. They married in Athens, Ohio on December 29, 1956. Jim was enrolled in the Army Reserve Officer Training Corps and graduated with a commission to become an Army Infantry Second Lieutenant. One week after their marriage, he began his two-year active army commitment at Fort Jackson, South Carolina where he led basic training operations for new soldiers.

After leaving the Army, Jim worked his way up the executive ladder by holding managerial positions in several companies in Dayton and Springfield, Ohio, to include: The Ohio Bell Telephone Company, and the manufacturing firms of Robbins & Myers, and Kelsey-Hayes. It was after the last of these positions that Jim’s business career expanded exponentially. A former colleague who was then employed with the Hunter Fan Company, the maker of high-end ceiling fans, realized that Jim had the professional background and skill set the firm needed to address personnel challenges they were experiencing at the corporate headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee. Jim accepted the position, later becoming the Vice President of Personnel, and eventually one of the company owners.

Upon retirement in 1996, Jim and Rosalie left Memphis and moved to Florida to a home on a golf course in The Villages where he worked on improving his golf game. Rosalie passed away in 2016, and two years afterward Jim moved to O’Fallon to be closer to his son. For much of his eight years in O’Fallon he lived in the Keystone Place Senior Living Facility in which he acquired many friends and enjoyed himself immensely, especially when attending the Pub’s Happy Hours.

Jim was devoted to his family. When the children were young the family took memorable vacations to Kentucky State Parks where they explored caves, to Myrtle Beach, to Disney World shortly after it first opened in Florida, and on fishing and camping trips. When his son was in grade school, he and Jim joined an organization for fathers and sons known as Y Indian Guides, which was a Christian group committed to assisting fathers and sons to participate in bonding activities together; Jim volunteered for and then became the leader of that organization.

Jim had many notable qualities, to include being a great communicator, having a quick sense of humor, and frequently displaying a truly astounding memory. Even upon reaching his upper eighties, he was able to describe details about the plays his high school football team ran during its games; this included the school his team was playing against, the final score, the names and positions of every one of his teammates who was on the field during those plays, and even what each player’s blocking or running assignment was. Jim lived his Christian faith. He took his family to church each Sunday, he taught Sunday School to high school age kids, and he gave generously not only to his church, but to numerous charities and to individuals who were in need.

Jim was preceded in death by his wife, Rosalie W. (nee Powell) Welker; and parents, Harry L. and Anna (nee Vasilovic) Welker.

He is survived by his sister, Sharon (nee Welker) Wiggins; brother, Harvey (Julie) Welker; son, Martin (Chin Cha) Welker; daughter, Brook Welker; granddaughter, Jennifer (Aaron) Fister; grandson, Benjamin Welker; and great-grandsons, Everett and Witten Fister.

Visitation will be 1:00 – 2:30 pm, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, 102 W. Washington St., O’Fallon, Illinois. Funeral service will begin at 2:30 pm, Wednesday, June 17, 2026, at Wolfersberger Funeral Home, with Pastor Tom Roepke officiating. Burial will occur at the Roselawn Cemetery, Princeton, West Virginia, where Jim will be interred alongside his wife, Rosalie.

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