James "Jim" A. Welton

James "Jim" A. Welton, 89, passed away on October 30, 2023 in Lone Tree, CO after a brief illness. Jim was born on October 7, 1934 on the family farm outside Worms, NE to George W. and Laura M. "Harre" Welton. Jim attended school in Worms until his family moved to Grand Island, NE where he continued his education at Trinity Lutheran School, Walnut Junior High, and Grand Island Senior High School, graduating in 1952.

After graduation, Jim joined the U.S Navy during the Korean conflict. 

Jim married his high school sweetheart, Joan Rinke, in September 1954 and the couple lived in California until Jim left the Navy in 1957. The couple returned to Grand Island, where Jim started a masonry contractor business, working on a multitude of residential and commercial buildings in the Grand Island area. 

Jim, with the help of his father George, built his family a home in Grand Island where he and Joan raised three children, Jim, Julie, and Jennifer. 

Jim enjoyed spending time with his family, camping, boating, and traveling across the US, often to attend Nebraska Cornhusker bowl games.  Jim and Joan enjoyed playing bridge and were members of the local bridge club for many years. 

In 1986, Jim and Joan moved to Denver, Colorado where their daughter Julie resides. They enjoyed exploring and camping in the mountains. Jim and Joan also continued their travel adventures, venturing overseas to visit their son Jim and his family when he was stationed in the Air Force in England and Italy, and visiting their daughter Jennifer and her family in the San Francisco area. 

While living in Denver, Jim continued his work as a brick mason, working on many commercial buildings throughout the metro area, including Coors Field where his name is included on a plaque that commemorates the people who helped build the stadium. Jim and Joan were members of the Peace with Christ Lutheran Church as well as members of the International Bible Study Fellowship (BSF) for more than 20 years, attending meetings locally and in different domestic and foreign locales during their travels. 

Jim was not only a devoted husband and father but was also involved in the daily lives of his grandchildren, chauffeuring them to school and sporting activities, helping them with homework, and cheering them on at school and sporting events.

Jim will be missed every day by his family, which includes his son Jim (and Ann) Welton of Alexandria, VA, daughters Julie Welton of Aurora, CO, and Jennifer (and Allen) Welton-Hazlip of Denver, CO, nine grandchildren (Megan, Zach, Jake, Luke, George, Ellie, Jessica, Cale, and Cameron) his two great grandchildren (Noah and Lyla), and his extended family of cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jim was preceded in death by his loving wife of almost 68 years, Joan, his parents George and Laura, brother Ernest, sisters Dotty Maas and Joan Mudloff, and his son in-law Mike Monkman.

Visitation will be available from 10-11 am and the service will be at 11 am on Thursday, November 9 at Horan-McConaty Funeral Home 11150 E. Dartmouth Ave, Aurora, CO.  Burial will be at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, CO.