Bernard L. Welter

Bernard L. Lenny Welter, 65
Loving Husband, Brother, Uncle and Friendnbsp;nbsp;

Lenny Welter passed away Wednesday, February 6, 2008 at 8:32 AM with his wife and family at his bedside after a year long battle with cancer. Lenny was born on July 5, 1942, son of Lavern and Jeanette (Swift) Welter in Benton Wisconsin. The family moved to Rockford in 1955. Lenny graduated from West High School in 1960. He served in the United States Army and was honorably discharged in 1966. He married Kathleen Castegnaro on October 25, 1980 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church where he was a member. Lenny worked as a carpenter and was most recently employed by Mark VanVleck Construction for the past 15 years. Lenny was a member of the Venetian Club and enjoyed playing bocce and having a beer with his many friends. He loved to fish and his favorite place was at his cabin in Chetek, Wisconsin. He was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. nbsp; Lenny is survived by his wife Kathleen, sisters Janaan (Paul) Sibson of Britton, Michigan and Mary Ellen (Tom Evans) Frew of South Beloit; sister-in-law Eileen (Jim) Rose of Rockford and brother-in-law Mark Castegnaro (Bob Flynn) of Evanston, nieces Melissa (Brett) Hyrkas, Tara (Rhonda) Stam, Brandi Ferrell; nephews David Frew, Todd (Billie) Stam, David (Jessie) Ferrell, several great-nieces and nephews and his two little buddies Dominic and Lorenzo Ferrell; special friends Jim Ferrell and Mark VanVleck; many loving aunts, uncles and cousins, his dog Abigail (his fishing pal) and cat Thomas T. nbsp; Lenny was predeceased by his parents; mother and father-in-law Gino and Suzanne Castegnaro and dog Nikki. nbsp; The family would like to thank Dr. Korkmaz and the staff at OSF Saint Anthony Center for Cancer Care and Rebecca and Terri from Northern Illinois Hospice amp; Grief Center for all the care that Lenny received.nbsp;nbsp;
Funeral Mass will be held on Tuesday, February 12, 2008 at 11:00am at St. Bernadette Catholic Church with Rev. Kenneth J. Stachyra officiating.nbsp;nbsp;Visitation will be held on Monday, February 11, 2008 from 4 - 7pm with a Christian Wake Service at 6:30pm at Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Riverside Chapel, 3910 N. Rockton Rd. Rockford, ILnbsp; 61103. andnbsp;also from 10:00am until time of the Mass at the church on Tuesday. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society for research for stomach cancer or to Northern Illinois Hospice amp; Grief Center. To express online condolences please visit www.fitzgeraldfh.com.