Mr. Dick Welch, 69, of Morris, Ill., passed away Saturday afternoon, Aug. 4, 2012, in Provena  St. Joseph Medical Center in Joliet, Ill., with his loving wife and family by his side.

Born on Feb. 24, 1943, in Morris, the son of Frank and Bette Kindelspire Welch, he received his education in the Morris schools and graduated from Morris Community High School with the Class of 1961.

Mr. Welch proudly served his country when he enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, serving from 1962 to 1968. He was stationed in the Pacific Theater.

Dick married the love of his life, Mitzi G. Mayden, on Dec. 28, 1985, in the First Baptist Church in Morris.

For over 20 years he owned and operated M. Welch Developers in Morris, building and remodeling homes.

He attended the First Baptist Church in Morris and was a member of Morris American Legion Post # 294. He was an avid hunter and fisherman, followed the Chicago Bears football team and the Chicago White Sox, and enjoyed visiting and spending time with his many friends and family.

Surviving is his loving wife of over 26 years, Mitzi, and their daughter Samantha, of Morris; Three sons, Keegan (Sheila) Welch of Morris, and Kevin (Kandice) Welch and Keith (Cindy) Welch of Foley, Ala.; nine grandchildren, Hunter, Mackenzie, Kaden, Paxton and Dakota Welch, Savannah Welch and Kaleb Gleason, and Peyton Varney and Garrett Welch; three sisters, Becky Morfey of Morris, Colleen (Keith) Taylor of Cape Coral, Fla., and Peggy (Rich) Kraus of Morris; one brother, Jimmy Welch of Morris; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Margie Welch; his stepfather, Richard Billings; and one sister, Donna Sue Welch.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 7, at U. C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., 301 W. Washington St., Morris.

Funeral Services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 8, in the First Baptist Church, 1650 West U.S. 6, Morris, with the Rev. Steve Larson officiating. Interment with full Military Honors conducted by the Morris Color Guard will follow in Mt. Carmel Cemetery.

Serving as pallbearers will be Rob Amsler, Dan Truty, Dave Rehs, Dan Lundberg, Brad Gray and Mark Morig.

Preferred form of remembrance in Dick's memory would be memorial gifts to the First Baptist Church Building Fund or to an education trust fund that is to be established for his daughter, Samantha's, continuing college education.

Condolences can be extended online to Dick's family at www.ucdavisandsons.com.

Arrangements have been entrusted to U.C. Davis & Sons Funeral Home Ltd., Morris. For additional information, call the funeral home at (815) 942-0084.