Colonel William Stephen Welsch, USAF, retired, age 74, of O'Fallon, Ill., born August 21, 1943 in St. Louis, Mo., died December 24, 2017 at Memorial East Hospital, Shiloh, Ill.

Bill was a 26-year Air Force veteran, retiring in 1992, from the Air Force Communication Command, Scott AFB, where he was the Chief of Staff and Director of Plans and Programs. His military awards include the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal with two devices. The oldest of eight siblings, Bill grew up in St. Louis and attended St. Louis University. He was a member of Paralyzed Veterans of America.

Surviving are his wife Lucia Marie "Lu," nee Topic, Welsch of O'Fallon, Ill.; whom he married August 29, 1970 in Honolulu, Hawaii;  his four sons Stephen (Mary) Welsch of Collinsville, Ill., Bob (Jennifer) Welsch of Oakville, Mo., Jim Welsch of Belleville, Ill., Ken (Jessica) Welsch of St. Louis, Mo., his grandchildren Benjamin, Lauren, Ryan, Tyler, Lindsey, Jordan, Blake; his siblings Bob, Bonnie Harpster, Ray, David, Mary Fairchild, Jerry, and Nick.

He was preceded in death by his parents James and Dorothy, nee Whittmond, Welsch; and his granddaughter Kaitlyn Elizabeth.

The family kindly requests, in lieu of flowers, that memorial donations be made to St. Nicholas Catholic Church, Paralyzed Veterans of America, or Sister Thea Bowman Catholic School.

Visitation: The family will receive friends from 4:00 – 8:00 pm, Tuesday, January 2, 2017 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church, 625 St. Nicholas Dr., O'Fallon, and one hour prior to Mass on Wednesday.

Funeral: Memorial Mass will be celebrated at 10:00 am, Wednesday, January 3, 2017, at the church, with Msgr. William J. Hitpas presiding, followed by lunch, followed by interment with military honors at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, St. Louis.