Daniel Welle

Daniel M. "Dan" Welle, age 85, of Sauk Centre, passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 12 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre with Fr. Tim Wenzel and Deacon Lawrence Kaas officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Sauk Centre United Veterans Honor Guard. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 4:30 p.m. and the Veterans prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Dan was born to Leo and Barbara (Lehner) Welle on September 10, 1931 in Albany, Minnesota. He graduated from Albany High School and attended St. Cloud State University for one year. Dan was honorably discharged having served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

Dan married Arlene Adrian on June 28, 1952 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Albany, where Dan worked in the family car dealership. In 1964 Dan and Arlene purchased the Otto Brothers Dodge dealership in Sauk Centre, where they resided and raised their five children. In 1989 he opened Dan Welle Southtown, a new facility on the south side of Sauk Centre. He served on the Chrysler Dealer Council and was named a Pentastar award winning dealership multiple times.

Dan was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, where he served as a lector and an usher, and a member of the Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853, American Legion Post 67, and Sauk Centre Rotary Club. Dan had served on the St. Michael's Hospital Board and was active in Boy Scouts.

Dan and Arlene enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and traveled extensively. He had hiked the Grand Canyon and was a certified scuba diver. He also enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble.

Dan's family was the most cherished thing in his life; he was the happiest when he was surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Arlene Welle of Sauk Centre; four children, Bruce (Mickey) Welle of Sauk Centre, Joan (Lowell) Jenc of Alexandria, Brad (Sue) Welle of Roseville, and Brent Welle of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter-in-law, Gail Welle of Fergus Falls; twelve grandchildren, Aaron (Alani) Welle, Jared Welle, Chrissy (Kris) Hokanson, Becky (Paul) Winters, Beth (Ira) Bradford, Lindsay (Nick) Cox, Jordan Welle, B.J. Welle, Ben Jenc, Andy Jenc, Lauren Welle, and Megan Welle; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Deel Hoffman, Marian Hohman, and Macky Anderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Welle on February 10, 2007; brothers and sisters, Roman Welle, John Welle, Evelyn Welle, Leona Ahles, Sylvester Welle, and Ervin Welle.

Serving as casket bearers will be Aaron Welle, Jared Welle, Chrissy Hokanson, Beth Bradford, Ben Jenc, Andy Jenc, Lauren Welle, and Megan Welle. Cross bearer will be B.J. Welle and scripture bearer will be Jordan Welle. Gift bearers will be Jordan Welle and Hailey Hokanson.

Memorials are preferred to Holy Family School in Sauk Centre and CentraCare Health Foundation in Sauk Centre.