A memorial Mass for Father Gerard R. Welsch will be celebrated at 10 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 14 at St. John Bosco Church, 12934 Marine Ave. in Maryland Heights. Father Welsch died Nov. 7 at Mari de Villa Nursing Home in Town and Country. The longtime parish priest and educator was 84 years old.
He was born on Aug. 19, 1940, in St. Louis to Edwin and Irene (Mees) Welsch and was baptized at St. Anthony in St. Louis on Aug. 24, 1940. He attended St. Louis Preparatory Seminary-South, Cardinal Glennon College and Kenrick Seminary. He was ordained on March 26, 1966, at the Cathedral of Saint Louis by Cardinal Joseph E. Ritter.
After ordination, Father Welsch was assigned as assistant pastor at All Souls in Overland. He was a part-time associate pastor at Our Lady of Good Counsel in Bellefontaine Neighbors (1968-70) and Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis (1970-72), and a teacher and administrator at De Andreis High School (1972-76).
He was an associate pastor at St. Peter in Kirkwood (1976), teacher and administrator at Rosati-Kain High School (1977-83) and a part-time associate pastor at Holy Family in St. Louis (1976-77), St. Roch in St. Louis (1977-83) and St. Catherine of Sienna in Pagedale (1983-84).
Father Welsch was named associate pastor at Mary Queen of the Universe in Lemay from 1984-86. He became pastor of Most Holy Trinity in St. Louis (1986-89), St. Joseph in Manchester (1989-99) and St. John Bosco in Creve Coeur (2000-20). He retired to Regina Cleri in 2020.
Father Welsch donated his body to Saint Louis University School of Medicine. A memorial Mass is being planned for a later date.
