James Edward “Jim” Welsh was a loving spouse, proud father and grandfather, protective brother, caring friend and decorated Vietnam veteran. Jim died Nov. 6, 2019, at Abbott Northwestern Hospital in Minneapolis, surrounded by his immediate family.
Jim was born in 1940, in Clearwater and was the second eldest of eight children. Jim spent his younger years living in Clearwater and Sauk Rapids before enlisting in the U.S. Army in 1961. While stationed in Germany, he met his wife Inge of 55 years. Following his military service, Jim completed his education at the University of Minnesota, where he studied mechanical engineering. Jim and Inge traveled the world with their son, relocating to London and Amsterdam where Jim sold Onan generators globally. In 2005 while living in Paris, France, Jim retired from Kohler Company’s power systems division as managing director for Europe, Middle East and Africa region.
He was an outdoor sportsman at heart. He enjoyed hunting with his brothers and fishing with his granddaughter.
Jim is preceded in death by his parents William and Bertha (Lumley) Welsh and brother Joseph Welsh.
He is survived by his spouse Inge, son Christoph (Mary) Welsh, granddaughter Sophie; brothers Wayne (LuAnn Pelletier) Welsh of Monticello, Jack (Joyce) Welsh of Cushing, Ronald (Lynne) Welsh of Sauk Rapids and Daniel Welsh of Sauk Rapids; sisters Maryann Lewellyn of Sauk Rapids and Patricia (David) Johnson of Clearwater; and many nieces and nephews.
A family service with military funeral honors is being planned for spring 2020 at Fort Snelling Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family has designated the American Parkinson Disease Association for memorial contributions: apdaparkinson.org or 1-800-223-2732.
Our Country is in Mourning, a Soldier Died todayR-46-1P
