Mr. Edward F. Welch, 84, of 691 Florence Avenue Galesburg, IL, died at 4:40 AM Thursday September 6, 2001 at Marigold Health Care Center, Galesburg, IL. His funeral will be 10:00 AM Monday September 10, 2001 at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church with Rev. Ernest Pizzamiglio officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Galesburg. Visitation will be from 6:00 P.M. to 8:00 P.M. Sunday September 9, 2001 at Hinchliff-Pearson-West Galesburg Chapel. Memorials may be made to the Galesburg Elks Lodge #894 or the Alzheimer’s Disease Association.

He was born on August 28, 1917 in Tampico IL to Charles S. and Sophia (Steinke) Welch. He married Sarabeth Richardson in Galesburg on June 28, 1947. She preceded him in death on September 1, 1998. He worked for the United States Postal Department for 38 years. He was then the Knox County Circuit Clerk for 9 years, retiring in 1982. He was a graduate of Corpus Christi High School and attended Knox College. He was a member of Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church. He was a member and Past Exalted Ruler of Elks Lodge #894, a member of Joseph Hunt Council Knights of Columbus #556, Moose Lodge 880, Ralph M. Noble American Legion Post #285, the Galesburg Lions Club, V.F.W. Post #2257, AMVETS, Disabled American Veterans and the John Ericson Republican League. He was an Army veteran of World War II.

He is survived by a daughter, Sara Jane Esp of Galesburg, IL; four sons, John Welch and Patrick Welch, both of Galesburg, IL, Richard Welch of Decatur, IL and Stephen Welch of Peoria, IL; two sisters, Eileen Aldrich of Springfield, IL and Veneriece Carrigan of St. Simons Island, GA; a brother, Harold Welch of Dayton, TN; eleven grandchildren, and four great grandchildren. Three brothers preceded him in death.