Roderick Hewitt “Rick” Welch II

Roderick Hewitt “Rick” Welch II, age 73, of Jackson passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023 at home. He was born November 21, 1949 in Tecumseh a son of the late Roderick Hewitt and Janet Lois (Frost) Welch. Rick graduated from Clinton High School in 1967. On August 10, 1968 in Livonia, he married Linda Lee Hoggarth and they have shared 54 years together.

After Rick graduated from high school, he attended Dallas Baptist College to become a youth pastor. He later continued his education, receiving a bachelor’s degree in business from Concordia University in Ann Arbor. Rick started his career at Bookcrafters in Chelsea, later moving to McNaughton and Gunn in Saline where he retired as the Human Resource Director around 2010. Through Michigan State University Rick completed the master gardener program. He attended Encounter Church in Jackson and Covenant Presbyterian Church in Tecumseh. Rick loved watching and feeding the birds. He enjoyed golfing and coached softball when his children were younger. His great enjoyment came from watching his children play sports.

Along with his wife Linda, Rick is survived by his children, Denise (John) Kestner of Jackson and Jason (Christy) Welch of Clinton; siblings, Jim Welch of Clinton, Teresa (Gary) Fetzer of Adrian, and Cindy (Del) Sterling of Rothbury; 10 grandchildren, Julia, Dominic, Mia, Matthew, Catherine, Olivia, Austin, Ryan, Jacob and Grace.  Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, JannaLee Welch and step-mother, Wilma Welch.

Visitation for Rick was from 11 a.m.–1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 24, 2023 at the Tecumseh Chapel of Handler Funeral Homes.  A celebration of life followed at 1 p.m. with Pastor Richard Mortimer officiating.  Private inurnment was in Brookside Cemetery Columbarium in Tecumseh.  Memorial contributions may be made to the Clinton High School band program and the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s. Online condolences may be offered to the family at handlerfuneralhomes.com.