Gary (Gerhardt) Welker

WELKER, Gary (Gerhardt)…

Gary (Gerhardt) Welker, in his 84th year, of Blyth, formerly of Elmira and Waterloo, passed away peacefully with his wife and daughter by his side on Saturday, March 21 at University Hospital, London after a brief illness.

Gary was born on August 8, 1942 in occupied Yugoslavia. After the war his family immigrated to Canada and settled in Waterloo. Gary attended Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational Institute and Waterloo Collegiate Institute, then Waterloo Lutheran University after which he worked as a salesman for his father’s tool and die business, Welker Industries. A natural-born salesman, Gary’s professional life included sales in stereo equipment, life insurance, and most recently antique books, toys, and other paraphernalia.

Gary was truly dedicated to the love of his life Linda, whom he met at WCI in 1961 and married in 1968. They were nearly inseparable through over 57 years of marriage and enjoyed traveling around Canada, the United States, and Europe as exhibitors at antique and collectible shows.

Perhaps Gary’s proudest achievement was his family; sons Andrew (the late Sue), and Michael (Paige), and daughter Lisa Hicknell (Robert). Dad dreamt of building a “family compound” where he could always have loved ones nearby. He cherished opportunities to spend time with the whole family including summer vacations at Cleveland’s House on Lake Rosseau or cottages in Prince Edward County. When the kids were younger, summers also meant Dad was in charge while Mom worked. Andrew, Mike, and Lisa will always remember the wild adventures of Dad’s unsupervised parenting; including a spontaneous round-trip flight in a Cessna with Dad’s hobby-pilot friend to Bracebridge for a slice of blueberry pie all before mom got home from work.

Gary’s pride for his children could only be matched by that for his precious grandchildren Abigail Sonnenberg (Shaneal), Gabriel Hicknell, and Poppy Hicknell. A devoted and attentive Papa, there seemed to be no limit to the silly antics he would engage in to make his Abbie, Gabe, and Poppy giggle.

In addition to Husband, Father, and Papa, Gary will also be remembered as a beloved Brother-in-law, Uncle, and the Dad that his kids’ friends loved to be around.

In his passing, Gary has been lovingly reunited with his parents Sophie and Karl Welker Sr., his brother Karl Welker Jr., and daughter-in-law, Sue.

A celebration of Gary’s life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted with Cremation London & Middlesex, 519-858-2467. Online condolences shared at www.cremationlondon.com