Ed “Eddie” Welk, 78 passed away on Sept. 3 2024 at Blodgett Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan at Blodgett Hospital.
He was born July 4, 1946, in Oak Park, Ill., the son of Robert and Jean (Rehm) Welk. He married Barbara Ryder on Sept. 3, 1972.
Ed is survived by his wife, Barb, three children, Nicole (Greg) Carlson, Doug (Brittany) Welk and Laura (Doug) Hartman; seven grandchildren, Grace, Isabel, Maggie and Sam Carlson; Mykah Welk; and Dakota and Jakob Hartman; two sisters, Denise (Mark) Renie and Karla (Jim) Dobbeck, sisters-in-law, Susan Cull and Deb Ryder; and four nieces.
Preceding him in death were his parents; his sister, Virginia; brothers-in-law, Dr. Roland Cull, John Sherman and Jack Ryder.
Ed was in the Navy for four years, stationed in Japan and the Philippines. When he got home in 1970, he met Barb and they got married two years later.
Ed received his undergraduate degree from Boston University, and later, his MBA from the University of Illinois.
During the mid-‘70s Ed began his journey into the political scene. He worked for Illinois Gov. James R. Thompson from 1977 until 1991 and on the Senate staff for a number of years. He then had a great career as a lobbyist representing hospitals throughout state.
While living in Rochester, Ill., he was served on the school board from 1993 to 2009, acting as its president for a majority of those years.
Nearing his retirement, he and Barb moved to Fennville, where Ed continued his interest in local government, serving on the Saugatuck Township Planning Commission for many years.
His many interests included cheering for the Chicago Bears, having had season tickets for 55 years, gardening, entertaining friends at their home, cooking, enjoying political discussions with friends (or foes), checking the stock market ups and downs and fishing for musky in Canada and tarpon in Costa Rica.
BUT his main interests and loves were his wife, three children, their spouses and his grandchildren. He reveled in all of their accomplishments and consoled them during any failures. He was a devoted friend to many people and trusted by everyone he met.
A celebration of Ed’s life was held Sept. 9 at Community Church of Douglas. A future service will be held at Koke Mill Christian Church in Springfield, Ill., Saturday, Oct. 12 at 2 p.m., with visitation preceding the service at 1.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Wounded Warriors or Tunnel to Towers. Eddie truly believed in taking care of veterans.
