Daniel M. "Dan" Welle, 85

Sauk Centre

Sept. 10, 1931 - Jan. 8, 2017

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, January 12 at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Sauk Centre for Dan Welle who passed away surrounded by his family on Sunday, January 8, 2017 at Mother of Mercy Nursing Home in Albany, Minnesota. Inurnment will be in the parish cemetery.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday and from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday at Patton-Schad Funeral Home in Sauk Centre. Parish prayers will be held at 4:30 p.m. and the Veterans prayer service will be at 7 p.m. Wednesday evening at the funeral home.

Dan was born to Leo and Barbara (Lehner) Welle on September 10, 1931 in Albany, Minnesota. He graduated from Albany High School and attended St. Cloud State University for one year. Dan was honorably discharged having served two years in the U.S. Marine Corps during the Korean Conflict.

Dan married Arlene Adrian on June 28, 1952 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in St. Anthony, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Albany, where Dan worked in the family car dealership. In 1964 Dan and Arlene purchased the Otto Brothers Dodge dealership in Sauk Centre, where they resided and raised their five children. In 1989 he opened Dan Welle Southtown, a new facility on the south side of Sauk Centre. He served on the Chrysler Dealer Council and was named a Pentastar award winning dealership multiple times.

Dan was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church, where he served as a lector and an usher, and a member of the Bishop Busch Council 4863 Knights of Columbus. He was also a member of the Paul F. Donart VFW Post 2853, American Legion Post 67, and Sauk Centre Rotary Club. Dan had served on the St. Michael's Hospital Board and was active in Boy Scouts.

Dan and Arlene enjoyed spending winters in Arizona and traveled extensively. He had hiked the Grand Canyon and was a certified scuba diver. He also enjoyed playing cards and Scrabble.

Dan's family was the most cherished thing in his life; he was the happiest when he was surrounded by his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.

Survivors include his wife of 64 years, Arlene Welle of Sauk Centre; four children, Bruce (Mickey) Welle of Sauk Centre, Joan (Lowell) Jenc of Alexandria, Brad (Sue) Welle of Roseville, and Brent Welle of Las Vegas, Nevada; daughter-in-law, Gail Welle of Fergus Falls; twelve grandchildren, Aaron (Alani) Welle, Jared Welle, Chris (Kris) Hokansen, Beth (Ira) Bradford, Becky (Paul) Winters, Lindsay (Nick) Cox, Jordan Welle, B.J. Welle, Ben Jenc, Andy Jenc, Lauren Welle, and Megan Welle; 11 great-grandchildren; three sisters, Deel Hoffman, Marian Hohman, and Macky Anderson.

He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Brian Welle on February 10, 2007; brothers and sisters, Roman Welle, John Welle, Evelyn Welle, Leona Ahles, Sylvester Welle, and Ervin Welle.

Memorials are preferred to Holy Family School in Sauk Centre and CentraCare Health Foundation in Sauk Centre.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by St. Cloud Times on Jan. 10, 2017.

Memories and Condolences
for Daniel Welle

Sponsored by Patton-Schad Funeral Home - Sauk Centre.

13 Entries

Lisa R. Welle Malone

January 14, 2017

Dear Arlene and family, My thoughts and prayers are with each of you during this difficult time. May your loving memories and the love you have for each other give you some comfort now and in times ahead. I know my father Lynn Welle greatly loved and admired Dan. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Dan Stroeing

January 12, 2017

i met Dan in early 1970 when I bought a brand new Dodge Charger from him. The dealership was in the downtown part of Sauk Centre. He was delighted to sell me the 1969 Charger because no one in Sauk Centre was foolish enough to purchase the car. It was green and had a 440 hemi engine. I LOVED that car.
I did bring it back to him to make him aware the car was not "As Stated" He asked what I meant by this? I told him that the speedometer read 150 mph and I had trouble getting it over 146 mph. dan in a very diplomatic way put his arm around my shoulder and walked me to the door. He asked me not to come back and complain. He also wanted to know where I was driving 145 mph. He said he wanted to know so he could stay away from that area of the county. I eventually sold the Charger, and years later saw Dan in Sauk Centre. He greeted me with a hearty handshake and a big smile. He said he was happy to see that I was alive and well and for a time he was worried about my health. He never said whether he was worried about my physical health or my mental health. He was honest, fair and even tempered An all around good guy. My condolences and prayers to his family. He and his spirit will be missed.

Dan Stroeing, Bainbridge Island, Washington

Jack and JoAnn Meyer

January 11, 2017

Arlene and family, May Dan rest in peace and may God help you with all the great memories you share. Perhaps the first thing that comes to mind is Dan's warm smile and great sense of humor. He was a good man. We will miss him.

Gary and Ramona Thibert

January 11, 2017

Bruce, You and your family our in our thoughts and prayers.

Mark and Barb Rachey

January 10, 2017

Our thoughts and prayers to the Welle families. There were fond memories the years being neighbors!

Jim and Linda Beste

January 10, 2017

Arlene and family, we are so sorry to hear of Dan's passing. He was a good man and well respected in the community. Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and your family. God Bless. Jim and Linda Beste

Peggy & Sylvester Ruegemer

January 10, 2017

To The Dan Welle Family, you have my deepest sympathies, on the passing of your husband, father, & grand-father. He was a very nice man. Your all in my thoughts, & in my prayers. May Dan rest in peace.

Larry Lamusga

Sent Flowers

Shirley Adrian

January 10, 2017

Arlene and family I will keep you all in my prayers and be thinking of you all on Thursday. Dan will be missed and remembered. God bless you all. Shirley Adrian

Joni and Pat Uhlenkamp

January 10, 2017

Arlene and family,,our hearts go out to you. Dan was a huge part of this community for years,,one of the best. His smile and friendliness never went unnoticed. Peace to a grieving family.

Tim Gerber

January 9, 2017

A great man who opened his house to many rowdy boys in the 1990's. God Bless.

Donald John

January 9, 2017

Arlene and Family - Condolences on Dan's passing. I came to Sauk Centre in 1981 and our paths would often cross and he was kind, fair and honest to work with, although I always new he was a couple steps ahead of me! His track record as a business owner, husband, father and grandfather is inspiring as it is impressive.

Jean Braun Carruthers

January 9, 2017

My thoughts and prayers are with you all during this difficult path that you are traveling. I don't know what it feels like to lose a husband. And I understand from experience that one doesn't truly understand the loss of a parent until they experience it. I know you will miss your husband/father/grandfather. He was a good man! The memories of our families while in Albany are precious. And, I was fortunate enough to see him and Arlene when they got together with my parents over the years. Praying for you all!!

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