Obituary
Jerry Welch, age 76, died of dementia on August 26, 2026, in Lee’s Summit, MO. Jerry is survived by his wife of 55 years, Paula Mills Welch, of Lone Jack, MO, his daughters Julia Brock and Suzanne Wettstein of Colorado and 8 grandchildren. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Don and Gladys Welch, brother, Leon Welch, and his son, Jeffrey Welch.
He was born on Sept. 13, 1949, in Ft. Leonard Wood, MO. As a child, his family visited his many relatives in Jerome, Big Piney, Edgar Springs, and Flat, Missouri. He spent much of his childhood in Jefferson City, MO and graduated from Lee’s Summit High School in 1967. He then joined the Missouri National Guard in the same year and continued his military career throughout college. He flew helicopters as an Army pilot before graduation from Central Missouri State College with a BS degree in Aviation Safety.
In February, 1971, Jerry and Paula married in Hickman Mills, lived in Lone Jack, and then proceeded to Columbia, MO where their son, Jeff, was born. After 3 years of working full time at the Missouri National Guard Armory, they moved to Sedalia where their 2nd child, Julia, was born. Jerry worked at the Armory there and later owned a Cessna Pilot Center and Flight School.
They moved to Raytown in 1979 where their youngest child, Suzanne, was born. Jerry was a flight instructor and flew the corporate airplane called ‘Charlie Brown’, for Commerce Bank and the Kemper Family.
He was a United Airlines pilot for 21 years from February 1987 to September 2008.
During this time, he also served as Lieutenant Colonel and Commander of the 1st Battalion, 135 Aviation, Missouri National Guard, from December 1978 – December 1988.
Jerry was a country boy at heart, and he and Paula were able to move back to Lone Jack and buy a 95-acre farm where they lived for 29 years raising cattle, horses, dogs and cats.
His friends and family will remember him as a loyal and hard-working man.
A visitation will be held on September 11, 2026, from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m. at Langsford Funeral Home in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. A graveside service with military honors will follow at 11:00 a.m. at the Missouri Veterans Cemetery in Higginsville, Missouri.
In lieu of flowers, family requests donations in Jerry’s memory be made to Ascend Hospice.
Condolences
Visitation
Lee’s Summit, MO 64063
Services
Higginsville, MO 64037
Paula,
So sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing. Unfortunately I am unable to attend as we will be out of the country then. Rest assured out thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I will be in touch.
Dean
Paula I’m so sorry for your loss, praying for strength for your family and peace for Jerry
I am so sorry to hear of Jerry’s passing. In High school he and I were on the wrestling team together. I always remember him as a warm and friendly person, who never had a negative thing to say. And a very good football player and wrestler as well.
I’m very sorry I didn’t know of his decline earlier and did not know of the services.