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Michael Welker Obituary
Michael is survived by his beloved wife, Julie Welker, with whom he ran a successful automotive business for many years. They had just celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary this past August.
He is also survived by his loving daughters, Shadir Welker and Michelle Welker, as well as his sister, Linda Welker, and brother, Timothy Welker. Michael leaves behind a cherished legacy through his three grandchildren, niece, and nephews.
Michael was preceded in death by his parents, Marilyn and James Welker.
The loss of Michael Welker is deeply felt by his family, friends, and all those whose lives he touched.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Danny Shurtleff
October 21, 2024
One of the first times I met MICHAEL we swam in their pond most of the day, rope swings and 20 ft sea biscuit , so much fun , I'll never forget it. I was about 10 yrs old and we became life long friends. Danny Shurtleff
michelle welker
April 28, 2024
Fredric Samuel 'Sam' Russ
March 14, 2024
I've been thinking about Mike for days, since I learned of his passing. First met Mike in the 4th grade and continued on through High School and somewhat beyond. I was trying to think of something special to write, but all I can come up with would be a rambling story of how Mike treated others and what a special guy he was. I'm beyond sad that he is gone! I left Barstow in 1997 and visited him once on one of our trips through, enjoying a meal at Del Taco. Mike was one of those guys who was mostly upbeat. I do recall one dark period that I was fortunate to help him through. I only have 3 friends who top my list, one lives in Arizona, Michael Wayne Welker and my wife Roxanne of over 48 years. Distance has a way of separating people in ways we never considered possible. My greatest regret is that I didn't stop more often. Mike is one of the few I often think about, I've said some prayers for him and to him. Now I will close and continue to think of him adding him to my prayers...Peace and Love Mike...Rest well my friend, see you on the other side!
Michelle welker
January 1, 2024
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Michelle welker
January 1, 2024
Michelle welker
January 1, 2024
Michelle welker
January 1, 2024
Michelle welker
December 26, 2023
Michelle welker
December 26, 2023
Michelle welker
December 26, 2023
Michelle welker
December 26, 2023
Danny Shurtleff
December 21, 2023
Michael was always mister cool . I never saw Hike lose his cool . He asked me to be his best man at his wedding , when him and Julie got married. I was thrilled with that invitation and excited . He had rented a beautiful place out of Victorville made for those occasions. Hike handed me a Solitaire Diamond ring about an hour before the ceremony, that blew my mind , it was huge and beautiful , I mean next level NICE! So I put in my front left tuxedo pocket. The florist showed up and needed help finding all the women for the Corsages , I mean grandma , moms aunts , sisters , it was crazy! So I started helping out , then it happened , my pants pockets were both full of crepe paper , so I started looking for trash cans wherever they could be found , to empty my pockets. Julie looked so beautiful and Michael so handsome , they were both beaming with excitement when the time came for the vows! Then the Ring exchange was asked for , I reached into my pocket and You guessed it , the ring was gone , oh no , is an understatement ! I panicked , but not Mr Cool , he just grinned at me and smiled . The only thing I could think of was take my ring a size 14 and hand it to Hike , Mr Cool . I could see it on his face though , I had taken the joke far enough. After they kissed and were announced to the crowd as Mister and Misses Welker , I grabbed my brother Mike and we started checking every trash can there. Ten minutes later my brother Mike yelled I got it , to my $ 20,000.00 relief !!! I still can´t hardly believe I did that 40 years ago . But Mr Cool just looked at me and smiled , in his usual way .
michelle welker
December 21, 2023
michelle welker
December 18, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Michelle welker
December 14, 2023
Gary Maloney
December 13, 2023
We use to swim in that mud hole in there front yard they had a big rope we would swing out over the hole over the fence and out in front of 18 wheelers we was dumb kid's but we all survived we would jump out of the tree onto this big air bag and it would shoot you way up into the air before hinting the water.we had a fun childhood Gary Maloney
Mike Echamendy
December 12, 2023
This is from Mike Echamendy ....
Always had fond memories of Mike from back in the day (motorcycle racing). He inspired us to always look for an edge. Like racing fuel, (not available at the time)... So he's the first I remember blending aviation gas with premium, was a great idea! Also remember as a teen visiting his garage and there was helium for the tires! What!!!? Don't think that ever became a thing but Mike tried it. Super cool!
Danny shurtleff
December 4, 2023
I thought I was a perfectionist ?
One desert race was coming up out by Lucern Valley . And Michael´s mom and dad and one sister were going to watch and help gas the guys up in the pits. At the end of the race Hike and Tim wanted 2 things , a pair of pliers to pull cactus thorns out of their legs and hands and an ice cold Pepsi in a bottle. That´s when we went over to the Cadillac big Jim drove out there. Hikes dad was Big Jim or James . He popped the trunk and there it was , Hike had made a free floating hanger for the ice chest , it was suspended off the bottom of the trunk and free floating so as to not flatten the Pepsi . You see Hike and Tim wanted an ice cold Pepsi that was not flat !!! A that was Hikes solution , make a hammock for that Pepsi . Got to love a guy who knows what he wants and takes care of it! Ask Michael´s sister she´ll tell you it´s true ! Thought I saw it all ! Funny but true Danny S
Danny Shurtleff
December 4, 2023
Michael Welker , AKA Hike - offered to give me a ride home one day . Hike owned a Dodge Charger RT 440 that he had hopped up by doing unthinkable things to the engine. As he pulled out onto Hwy 58 headed south , he gunned it . I looked at the speedometer and we hit 155 MPH , Hike said above 150 you turn right to go left and turn left to go right. I don´t know about that , but I thought we were going to shoot off into space . Michael jumped on the brakes and made a right hand turn on Soap Mine Rd , 2 miles from his house . Just wanted to share this real experience from a guy that was Mister Cool , AKA Hike , he never even flinched , as for me , I was afraid and excited all at the same time, and that´s the fasted I´ve still ever been on the ground ! And , I owe to Hike , what a memory! I´ll never forget the look on his face .Love You Hike !!!
Kevin vartey
December 3, 2023
Julie, there are so many great stories I have of Mike,I will start with this one. I am no writer so bear with me. This story went on from 8th grade until the end of High School. Almost every day after school we would be over Mike and Tim's house (they lived in a little house separate from the big house) first off Mike usually went into the big house and fixed himself a little Chef Boyardee pizza, after that he would come back and we would all sit around cracking jokes and watch Hobo Kelly, The Rifleman, and the Three Stooges, we would all be rolling on the ground we were laughing so hard. After we were done watching TV and doing stupid stuff it was MOTORCYCLE TIME, we would be working on them, riding them, testing them ( they had a little motorcycle course behind the house) and everyone would take their turn around it to see who was the fastest, of course Mike and Tim were. We were all in a Kid's Paradise, and Mike was King of that Paradise. I hated missing a day because you knew you were going to miss something really good. We did some Crazy stuff back then , and Mike was usually leading the charge. More stories to come
Michelle welker
November 29, 2023
Michelle welker
November 29, 2023
Michelle welker
November 29, 2023
Michelle welker
November 29, 2023
Julie Welker
November 21, 2023
Danny Shurtleff
November 6, 2023
This story is about Michael´s skill in all things mechanical. Mike - AKA - Hike talked to me about wanting to race the Baja 1000 some day with me , cause 2 drivers is a good choice. He built a custom Baja bug , that was unbelievable!!! He cut the top off , extended it 6" for racing foam for our heads to hit and to accommodate the 2- 21" Bilstien gas shock absorbers at each tire. He swapped out the stock VW axles with 1971 Capri axles much heavier. He put the biggest V W engine in it but Hike went Bazerk on the top end , he designed and custom built the carburetor intake and set up 2- 42 mill Mikuni carburetors , motorcycle carbs , something none of us thought could be done , then he ported the cylinder walls for more direct gas flow. And he made his own exhaust to fit the manifold and ported and polished it as well. I could go on and on about the things Hike did to that Baja. But the first time he took me for a ride in that machine , he headed for the power line road West of Barstow and there was a mile long stretch of whoop de do´s , 2´ -4´ bumps so close together , I thought You have to ride through them all , hitting everyone of them. Hike wad cruising about 40 MPH and I commented how smooth it was , although I almost was getting sick from the washboard like road we were on. Then it happened ( Hike hit the gas ) , personally I didn´t know You could go faster in the whoops than what we were doing. Next thing I knew , we were doing 90 MPH and just skimming along the top of um all , it was unbelievable and so smooth. That´s what happens when You build something right and for speed! And we were only in 3rd gear , oh my! Did I get a education that day. That´s what separates the pro´s from the beginners or intermediate racers. Hike was a pro! Pro mechanic and driver , someone who understood what it´s like to do 100 MPH across the open Desert . It was his home , his whole life and he rode and raced in the Mohave for years.That day I learned what it was like to be a professional racer, wow. Thanks Hike. Another true story by Danny Shurtleff .
Julie Welker
November 6, 2023
Danny Shurtleff
November 6, 2023
Here´s a story about how generous , smart , and caring Michael Welker always is. Mike and his younger brother Tim were registered Dist 37 American Motorcycle Association Professional Desert Racers , they were both in the top 5 riders , basically in the world. Michael - AKA , Hike was a master mechanic his whole life. In my second desert race my brand new Hodaka Motorcycle blew up and seized up , the engine was locked up . I didn´t have any money , typical 15 yr old , and Hike said haul Your bike over to my house and I´ll have a look . The next day he called me and told me the bad news . My clutch blew up , my vertical cut gears were stripped out and my crank shaft was seized or locked up. Before I could say anything about my bad news , Hike said come on over . Michael and Tim lived in a separate house on the property and the kitchen was used as a mechanics shop. When I got there Hike was taking my engine out of the oven , he baked it at 500 degrees to get the crank shaft out, right when I got there.within 2 hours Hike replaced the clutch with a much better Barnett clutch , changed the vertical cut gears to straight cut gears and rebuilt my whole engine. Hike did this all from the dozens of spare parts he had just laying around the kitchen. He showed me how to mark the vacuum plate so the electrical timing would always be perfect. My bike was better than new in 2 hours , and I rode it home through the desert. Before I could ask him about paying him for the parts and work , he said " Don´t even worry about it " , I do this all the time . Michael and Tim were also journeyman plumbers for their dads business , doing things like 100´s of house plumbing jobs , whole tracts of homes, and installing pipe lines across the Mojave Desert. They , or I should say Mike always had money to race , eat out , and race most Sundays. What a great life he lived , in my opinion , and what I admired about Hike , he shared what he had , what he knew , and his friendship always. Boy , did we have a lot of good times together ! Love You Brother !!!
Michelle welker
October 31, 2023
Debbie Piantadosi
October 30, 2023
I know when I was having a very very difficult time in my life years ago and needed help; without question Julie and Michael sent help!
Geneva Johnson
October 30, 2023
Julie Welker
October 28, 2023
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