John O. Welker

John Orva Welker, 93, died Friday, February 6, 2026, at Mennonite Friendship Manor in South Hutchinson. He was born, February 9, 1932, in Hutchinson to John Jefferson and Bertha Faye (Zerbe) Welker.

John was a 1950 graduate of Nickerson High School and was a member of the Sterling Bible Church.

On November 30, 1954, he married Joyce Elaine Rich at the Sterling Evangelical Mennonite Church. They had been married for three months when he was drafted into the United States Army where he served for two years. After returning from the Army, they lived on the family farm for sixty years where he was a farmer and drove a school bus for USD 310 Fairfield for 42 years. In 2017, they moved to South Hutchinson. They enjoyed 69 years of marriage prior to Joyce's death on December 8, 2023.

Survivors include: son, Jeff (Denise) of Pretty Prairie; daughter-in-law, Carol, of Lincoln, NE; four grandchildren, Jenny (Steven) Knoche of Abbyville, Jacob (Tiffany) Welker of Stoneham, CO, Nate Welker of Omaha, NE, and Madison Welker of Lincoln, NE; and four great-grandchildren, Kaxton, Kolson and Kambrie Knoche and Tatum Welker.

John was preceded in death by: his wife, Joyce; son, Jerel; parents; and brother, Marion (Lois) Welker.

Funeral service will be 2:00 pm Saturday, February 14, 2026, at Sterling Bible Church, 3017 N. Sterling Road, Sterling, with Pastor Charles Busch and Dr. Scott Rich officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. Friends may call from 1 pm to 8 pm on Thursday and 9 am to 8 pm Friday at Elliott Mortuary, with family present from 5 to 7 pm on Thursday at Elliott Mortuary.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Sterling Bible Church or The Gideons International, in care of Elliott Mortuary, 1219 N Main, Hutchinson, KS 67501.