John H. Welzenbach

John H. Welzenbach, 85, of Rock Island, died May 2, 2023 at Trinity, Rock Island surrounded by family.

A Mass of Christian Burial for John will be 11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Sacred Heart Church, Rock Island.  Burial will be in Mt. Calvary Cemetery, Davenport.  Visitation will be held Friday from 4 until 7 p.m. at the Halligan-McCabe-DeVries Funeral Home, Davenport.  Memorials may be made to the family.

John was born on April 30, 1938 in Muscatine, Iowa, a son of Harold “Happy” and Geraldine (Russell) Welzenbach.  He graduated from St. Ambrose College.  Following graduation, John went to work at Clinton Corn Processing before going to work at the Rock Island Arsenal as a financial manager, retiring in 1990.

He married Shirley Tank and together they have five sons.  He later married Debbie Kirkhove on February 2, 2008 at Sacred Heart Church, Rock Island.

Jack  who was affectionately known by his family as "old man", lived an active life, he enjoyed playing golf, riding his motorcycle, going for long drives especially in his prize 1984 Mazda RX, and walking including over 25 Bix 7’s.  Jack also loved to play cards with his brothers on a weekly basis, which usually meant he was beating them at pinochle and euchre.

Survivors include his wife, Debbie, Rock Island, children: Mark (Sue) Welzenbach, Connecticut, Timothy (Lyan) Welzenbach, Davenport, John (Sally) Welzenbach, Chicago, Daniel (Amy) Welzenbach, Lenexa, Kansas, Angel (Wayne) Hilburn, East Moline, Phillip (Kim) Graf, Kewanee, Jonathon (Kalynn) Graf, Mingo, Iowa, and Stephanie (Dallas) Graf, Rock Island; fourteen grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; siblings: Don (Lenora) Welzenbach, Moline, Jean (Gerald) Kavanaugh, Davenport, William (Marge) Welzenbach, Davenport, Dennis (Mary Beth) Welzenbach, Leawood, Kansas, and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son Stephen in 1979 and his parents.