Olga Louise Welch, 102, died June 5, 2016, at Great Bend Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born Jan. 25, 1914, at Coffeyville, she was the daughter of Henry Ernest and Bertha (Sitz) Pomrenke. She married James Arthur “Jim” Welch Sept. 24, 1947, at Great Bend. He died Sept. 2, 2001. Olga had been a Great Bend resident since 1947. Before her marriage, she was an office manager for several Western Union offices in Kansas and Missouri and later was a nurses’ aide at Central Kansas Medical Center. Olga was a devoted wife, mother, and daughter. In addition to raising her four children, she cared for her father for many years until his death at the age of 86.
She was an expert farmer, gardener, cook and seamstress. Following her retirement from nursing, she established, owned and operated the Country Bazaar gift shop. Among the items she sold were her own beautifully stitched, hand-embroidered items.
She was an inspiration to many — not just for the length of her life, but for its quality. She remained active and independent until one month before her death, and even then did not lose her sense of humor, kindness, and warmth. She will be sorely missed by her adoring family.
Mrs. Welch was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend. She was a long-time Boy and Girl Scout leader and volunteer.
Survivors include three sons, Jim Welch and his wife Shirley of Great Bend, David Welch and his wife Tonya of Great Bend, and Paul Welch and companion Tom Taylor of Pueblo West, Colo.; one daughter, Kathy Welch Porter and her husband Bruce of Topeka; nine grandchildren, Jennifer Kaiser and her husband Mike, Jon Welch and his wife Jamie, Cristan Gottschalk and her husband Clint, Bradley Ridgel and his wife Jamie, Stacy Yeager and her husband Galyn, Magen Albert, Nathan Welch, Allyson Porter Haverkamp and her husband Stetson, and Mitchell Porter; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by her sister, Eda Roberts.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, June 13, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Great Bend with the Rev. Richard Monson officiating. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may call from 1-9 p.m. on Sunday at Bryant Funeral Home. Memorials are requested to Cedar Park Place, in care of the funeral home. Condolences may be sent and notice viewed at www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home**
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, June 8, 2016