Floyd A. Welch, of Phlox, died Monday, July 4, 2016 at his home under the care of his family and LeRoyer Hospice. He was 93 years old. He was born on December 15, 1922 in Phlox, a son of Adney and Minnie (Egging) Welch. He married Theresa Koeppel on July 1, 1944 at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Phlox. The couple recently celebrated 72 years of marriage.

He attended St. Joseph parochial school and graduated from Mattoon High School with the class of 1941.

He worked in Manitowoc building ships for a year before moving to Milwaukee where he worked at Bucyrus Erie Company as a welder.

Mr. Welch entered the United States Navy serving aboard the Amphibious Personal Attack boat USS Lenawee in the South Pacific. He was discharged as Seaman First Class in 1946. After military service he returned to Bucyrus Erie Company for three years before moving to the town of Hutchins in Shawano County where he raised his family and operated a dairy farm for 42 years retiring in 1990.

Floyd was a member of St. Joseph Holy Family Catholic Church and its Holy Name Society, the Catholic Order of Foresters where he served as treasurer for 20 years, the Devine-Menting American Legion Post #525, Phlox, and the Phlox Flames 4-H.

He enjoyed fishing, woodworking, carpentry, card parties and trips to the casino.

Survivors including his wife are three daughters, Mary (Eugene "Blue") Rogatzki, Deerbrook, Susan (Larry) Waldvogel, Waupun, Carolyn (Joseph) Metko, Antigo; five sons, Lawrence (Shirlee) Welch, Antigo, Edward (Ruth) Welch, Merrill, Walter Welch, Antigo, John Welch, Shawano, Andrew (Michelle) Welch, Bowler; a sister, Imelda Artz, Antigo; 32 grandchildren; 67 great-grandchildren, two great-great-grandchildren; two sisters-in-law, Emily Welch, Milwaukee and Elaine Koeppel, Milwaukee; two brothers-in-law, Oscar Koeppel, Phlox, and Joseph Koeppel, Wausau.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sons, Daniel and Thomas Welch, four sisters, Ethel (Victor) Baskerville, Mildred (Joseph) Marx, Dorthy (Raymond) Marx, and Eleanor Welch in infancy; two brothers, Norman and Robert Welch; four sisters-in-law, Adeline (Chester) Kowalski, Frances (Melvin) Wilhelm, Audrey Koeppel, Shirley Koeppel; six brothers-in-law, Alphonse (Emma) Koeppel, Ed Koeppel, Clarence (Marie) Koeppel, Martin (Rosemary) Koeppel, Vernon Koeppel, Jerome Artz.

The funeral Mass will be celebrated on Thursday at 11 a.m. at St. Joseph Holy Family Catholic Church with Rev. Charles Hoffmann officiating. Burial will take place in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation will be 3:30 to 7 p.m. on Wednesday at the Bradley Funeral Home and at the church on Thursday from 10 a.m. until the time of the service.

A parish wake service will be held Wednesday at 5 p.m., the Devine-Menting American Legion Post will stand honor guard from 6 - 6:45 p.m. and the visitation will conclude by reciting the rosary at 7 p.m. all at the funeral home.

Services