Kenneth Welker Sr.

It is with great sadness that we share the passing of our beloved father, Kenneth Welker Sr, who left us on November 18, 2025, surrounded by his wife, Emma Lee. He was 86 and had a long battle with Leukemia. He was born on August 24, 1939, in Belleville, Illinois to Dorothy and Wilbert Welker. His siblings are Thomas (Diane) Welker and Dee Anne (Dennis) Goedecke.

Ken was a devoted husband to his wife, Emma Lee Welker (Campbell) with whom he shared 31 years of marriage. They resided in Versailles, MO until recently moving into River City Living Community in Jefferson City, MO.

He gained Stepchildren Rama Brunswick (Steve) of Cosby, TN; Will Smith UAE; and Linda Bolanos of Phoenix, AZ. Step-grandchildren Meganne Rogers (Raiden) of Cosby, TN; Justin Smith of Moscow, ID; Brandon Smith of Phoenix, AZ; and Victoria Bolanos of Phoenix, AZ. Step-great-grandchildren Ben and Gabriel Lee and Lincoln Rogers of Cosby, TN.

His first Marriage was to Juanita Welker (Bardsley) for 36 years. He was a proud father to Kenneth Welker Jr (Sharon) of Glidden, WI; Robert Welker (Cheryl) of Melissa, TX. Grandfather to Kyle (Jenny) Welker of Dexter, MO; Lauren (Michael) Aussieker of Richview, IL; Leah (Jimmy) Johnson of Park Falls, WI; Casy (Brent) Richardson of Glidden, WI; Jackie Welker of Antioch, TN; Jake Welker of Dallas, TX; Justin (Michelle) Welker of Melissa, TX; and Ashley Allison of Melissa, TX. He adored his great-grandchildren Jemma, Allie of Park Falls, WI; Tobias, Rebecca, Zachariah of Glidden, WI; and Elli, Lexi, Chloe of Dexter, MO; and Wyatt, Lyla of Richview, IL.

He was preceded in death by his Father Wilbert Welker and Mother Dorothy (Klein) Welker, and Grandson Dillon Allison.

Ken started his career at Pfizer Pigments as a Lab Tech and retired at age 62 as a departmental supervisor. It was a career he was passionate about. He was the Morgan County Republican committee chairman for several years.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

Graveside services and interment will be held at 11:00 a.m., Monday, November 24th, in the Versailles Cemetery. The family will gather at 10:30 a.m., at the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home, 207 North Monroe St., Versailles, Missouri, to proceed in procession to the cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to Leukemia Society, a cause that was close to him.

Arrangements are under the direction and care of the Kidwell-Garber Funeral Home of Versailles.