James Vincent Welte

Urbana, Ill.-James Vincent "Jim" Welte, 60, died Monday, March 28, 2011, in Hayti, Mo., due to injuries sustained in an automobile accident. He was born April 25, 1950, in Rockford, the son of Robert and Lorraine( McFalls) Welte. He served his country in the U.S. Navy for 22 years and was in the Seabees. He worked as the Director of Facilities for Provena Covenant Medical Center in Urbana, Ill, where he most recently resided. He spent a great deal of time in the Tupelo, Mississippi area, traveling back and forth between Illinois and Mississippi where his wife, Lynne, lives. While in Tupelo, he attended NorthStar Church. He was an avid basketball fan and enjoyed playing in high school and loved spending time with his family.He is survived by his wife of nearly 24 years, Jerilyn "Lynne" Welte of Tupelo; his son, Michael Welte of Biloxi; his mother, Lorraine Welte, of Rockford, Ill.; three brothers, Ronald (Kathy) Welte and John (Jeanette) Welte) both of Rockford and Tom (Kim) Welte of Machesney Park; three step-children, Lauren Gonsalves of Hawaii, Brian Blazer of Long Island, New York, and Jill (Jesse)Blazer Baxter of Biloxi; five step-grandchildren, Dane Gonsalves, Sheldon Paishon, Brian Blazer, Brooke Blazer, and J.T. Baxter, II. He was preceded in death by his father in 1990.A memorial Mass will be held Wednesday, April 6, 2011 at St. Bernadette Catholic Church, 2400 Bell Ave at 11:00 a.m. Visitation will be held from 9:00 a.m. until time of prayer at 10:45 a.m. in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers memorials to the family for a fund to be established at a later date.