Mathias Welle

Mathias J. “Junior” Welle, age 88 of Greenwald, died peacefully surrounded by his family on Monday, August 19, 2019 at Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich, Minnesota.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, August 23 at St. Andrew’s Catholic Church in Greenwald. Interment will be in the parish cemetery with military honors by the Lake Henry American Legion Post 612.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Thursday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Friday at the Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Melrose. Parish prayers will be at 7 p.m. Thursday evening at the funeral home.

Math “Junior” Welle was born in Greenwald to Math & Rose (Kulzer) Welle on May 17, 1931. Math married Jane (Kampsen) on September 24, 1955 in Elrosa. Math went to 8 years of Catholic School in Greenwald and 1 ½ years at Melrose High School. Math lived all his life in Greenwald and worked at Welle Implement for 46 years. In February 1952, he was drafted into the Marines and served in Japan for six months as a mechanic and barber. He completed his military service in February 1954 and was happy to be home! Math and his brothers were owners of Welle Implement and sold the business in 1993 to Tom Schneider. Tom kept Math on board with Greenwald Farm Center for 20 years as a part-time parts runner. Math was very grateful to be able to help Tom and remain active in the business.

Math is a member of St. Andrew’s Catholic Church and Lake Henry Legion. He served on Greenwald Village Council and St. Andrew’s School board.

Math enjoyed teasing his grandchildren, making tractors out of old wood with the boys and putting IH signs on all of them. The girls liked to play restaurant with him, and he always called them “Miss America”. He loved when family, grandchildren, great grandchildren would come together to play ball, volleyball, and just visit. He also enjoyed playing cards (Smear & 500) with family and friends.

Math is survived by his wife, Jane (Kampsen); children, Mathias H. & Sandy (Hellermann) Welle, Steve & Jane (Dickhaus) Welle, Beverly & Jerry Pohlmann, Brenda & Rick Preusser, Tim & Patty (Schmidt) Welle, Kimberly & Jason McCollum; 17 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren, and 1 adopted grandchild; brother, Anthony & Barb Welle; sisters, Alice Moyer, Rosie & Bernie Meyer, Vonnie & Alvin Fuchs; in-laws, Jean (Matson) Welle, Flip Spanier, Ray Von Wahlde, James & Bonnie (Bertram) Kampsen; and many nieces and nephews.

Math was preceded in death by his parents, Math & Rose Welle; brother, LeRoy; sisters and in-laws, Verena & Bonnie Schweiters, Catherine Welle, Bernice & Orly Fuchs, Lillian & Willis Morrissette, Kathleen Welle, Marion & Donald Marthaler, Pat Spanier, Cecilia & Allen Neidermire, Clarice Welle; father and mother-in-law, Henry & Margaret Kampsen; sister-in-law, Rita (Kampsen) VonWahlde.

Thank you to family, friends, staff at Tree of Life, hospice, and Tom Schneider for their thoughtfulness at the time of Math’s life journey.

Casket bearers will be Josh Welle, Aaron Pohlmann, Blake Welle, Tyler McCollum, Ben Pohlmann, and Nathan Welle. Cross bearer will be Melissa Bashaw and scripture bearer will be Mathias R. Welle. Mass servers will be Ella Bertram, Noah Melsen, and Caitlin Schmidt. Gift bearers will be Alicia Schmidt, Carrie Melsen, and Evan Welle. Eucharistic Minister will be Patty Welle. Lector will be Bethany Bertram.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to Tree of Life Assisted Living in New Munich or CentreCare Hospice of St. Cloud.