John A. Welch

John A. Welch, 59, of Wasilla, AK, passed away July 10, 2020. He was born March 25, 1961 in Belmond, IA, to the late Robert G. and Evelyn L. Welch. John was a 1979 graduate of Beech Grove High School and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. John spent the majority of his childhood years in Liberia, West Africa, with his parents and three sisters. His love of God, adventure, and motorcycles began with treks into the jungle to spread the gospel with his late father. A few years after returning from Africa, the adventure continued when, 16 year old John fell in love with a girl named Teresa and was married at the ripe old age of 17. Always the overachiever, John started the family right away. Ten months after he was married, his first child was born. John had three more children before the age of 26. John and Teresa served the United States via John’s first career in the U.S. military. John spent the beginning six years of his military career in the Army. He flew Cobra helicopters, and through continued hard work and grit he became the youngest commissioned Warrant Officer at the time at 19 years old. John’s spirit of adventure then pulled him toward the dream of flying jets off of aircraft carriers. He moved from the Army to the Navy to chase that dream and the next 14 years he traveled the world, overachieving, and loving life as a Navy Pilot. For a time John flew S3 jets off of those carriers he dreamed about and eventually flew DC9 jets with the VR-52 squadron in Willow Grove, Pennsylvania. After proudly serving in the military for 20 years, he retired as a Lieutenant Commander and was hired by Northwest Airlines (now Delta Airlines). As a commercial airline pilot John was able to continue traveling the world, and flew many different kinds of aircraft including the Airbus, 747, and 757-ER to only name a few. He used the blessings this path created to pour into his beloved family, Liberia, his church family, his friends, prison ministry, and even the lives of many strangers along the way. He was a man of impact, when he walked into a room people noticed. There was no one like him and there never will be again. In life John enjoyed fishing, hiking, hunting, ATVs, racing and playing cards. At the time of his passing he was a member of East Rawles Church of God, Indianapolis, and a member of Northgate Church, Wasilla, AK as well as an active member of Love Liberia Missions. John is survived by his wife of 42 years, Teresa K. Welch; sons, Rev. Robert A. “Drew” Welch (Jessica) and Stephen A. Welch (Rachael); daughters, Jana L. Allman (Denny) and Marilyne “Brook” Manuel (Christopher); grandchildren, Ian, Kayla, Kirsten, Marleigh and Madison (Aug ’20); sisters, Connie S. Dunaway (Rev. Russ), Sherry K. Moore (Rev. Thomas) and Lynn A. Tofts (Kevin); and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be Saturday, August 1, 2020 from 1:00 p.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Evangel Church, 1221 East Main Street, Greenfield. Funeral services will follow from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. John will be transported to his Beloved Alaska for his final resting place. Memorial contributions are suggested to Love Liberia Missions for a building project that will be named in his memory at www.loveliberiamissions.org/donate. Final care and arrangements are entrusted to Shirley Brothers Thompson Road Chapel.

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John A. Welch

March 25, 1961 - July 10, 2020