John Lawrence Welk

December 26, 2022

John Lawrence Welk, 86, passed away on December 17, 2022, at HCA West Florida Hospital in Pensacola, Florida, after a very short battle with cancer.

He was born August 25, 1936 in Nazareth, Pennsylvania, to Lawrence and Anna Welk. As a young man, his family relocated to the Pensacola area where he graduated from Pensacola High School. He attended Auburn University obtaining a degree in Mechanical Engineering. After graduation, he spent over 20 years in the Navy, including time in active duty and as a reservist. After active duty, he went to work full-time for St. Regis Paper Company first in Pensacola, then in Kansas City, Missouri, where he kept the presses moving and retired after the age of 70. He returned to Pensacola to enjoy his later years playing golf, enjoying the outdoors, building anything, and spending time with various family and friends.

John is survived by his wife Belle Sanchez Welk, and their two children David (Viko) residing in Jakarta, Indonesia, and his daughter Dana (Chad) residing in Kearney, Missouri. His youngest daughter, Anna (Chris) of Puyallup, Washington, preceded John’s death. Further, he had three grandchildren, Kayla (Brad), Colton (Drew), and Alex residing in the Kansas City area; and one great granddaughter, Kendall; two sisters Lois Karcher(Hendersonville, NC) and Ruth Welk (Pensacola). John was also loved by numerous nieces and nephews, friends, and colleagues.

John will be buried in the Barrancas National Cemetery in a private ceremony. In the summer of 2023, his immediate family will host a celebration of his life on a date not yet determined.

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Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under Obituaries