Richard "Ed" Welch

RICHARD "ED" WELCH
Richard "Ed" Welch born in Newport, Rhode Island, and late of South Holland reposed in the Lord on January 12, 2015. Beloved husband of Darlene "Dusha" (nee Jerich) for 53 years. Loving father of Richard M. Welch, Kathleen Welch, Judith Welch , and Edward John Welch. Fond grandfather of Alyssa and Alexis Welch. Devoted son of late Richard and late Anna McCready Welch (nee Anderson). Ed was raised since age 8 by his Aunt Edna Mae Anderson. Ed had a Roman Catholic primary education and earned degrees at Manhattan College (BS Civil Engineer), Virginia Polytechnic Institute (MS), and Illinois Institute of Technology (PhD). He moved to Chicago in 1959 upon offer at IIT Research Institute "IITRI" formerly "Armour Research" as an Assistant Engineer where he also met his wife Darlene. He advanced to Senior Research Engineer at IITRI. Ed was a partner in Chiapetta Welch and Associates, a structural engineering consulting business with friend Richard Chiapetta. He n ever fully retired and consulted independently from his home with friend Mitch Kaplan through 2014. Richard was baptized Roman Catholic in Newport and received Chrismation into the Holy Orthodox Church in Lansing in 2005. The South Chicago Serbian community became his own. He was a devoted family man, assuming care and housing for Darlene's parents and disabled brother. He was a manager of a Little League team, a driver to piano lessons and builder of chrysalis and frog homes. He enjoyed reading history and spy novels, car and home maintenance and recently conducted an extensive research project on Welch, Anderson and Jerich, Funduk family history. His Rhode Island birthplace, first settled in 1639 by outcasts and refugees from Puritan Massachusetts, was an oceanside Navy town and scene of Stamp Act riots and active participants in the American Revolution. The Newport Irish community grew larger during the Famine in the 1840's when the Welch family came to America. Services are Friday January 16, 2015 at St. Archangel Michael Serbian Orthodox Church, Lansing, Illinois Following the Royal Hours service at 9:00 a.m., Richard will lie in state at church from 10:00 a.m. until time of service at 11:00 a.m. with the Very Rev. Dr. Milos Vesin officiating. Inter- ment Cedar Park Cemetery with dacha to follow. Arrangements by Kompare Funeral Home, Chicago, IL. (773) 768-8800