Jacob Ryan Welch

Jacob Ryan Welch 18, died Sunday March 21, 2010 at his Newton residence. He was born July 25, 1991, in Fort Scott, Kansas to Mitchell D. and Michelle A. (Quinteros) Welch Roufs. Jacob was a senior at Valley Center High School and worked as a sterilizer in his stepfather's dental practice. He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church in Newton. Jacob was also a member of the Valley Center Cadets and Boy Scouts. He excelled at forensics and debate and greatly enjoyed spending time with his friends. He was captain of the religion bowl as a sixth grader at St. Joseph Catholic School. Jake conquered and enjoyed water skiing after swallowing hundreds of gallons of lake water while learning. He greatly enjoyed a trip to Ireland with his father's family in 2008 and fell in love with Ireland. Jake was protective of his family especially his sister and mother. He had a warm engaging smile, sharp sense of humor and he loved his ice cream.

He is survived by his mother, Michelle, and stepfather, Brett Roufs, of Newton; father and stepmother Mitchell and Cassie Welch of Fort Scott; sister Morgan Welch of Newton; paternal grandmother Leola M. "Tilli" Miller of Redfield; and numerous aunts, uncles, and cousins.  He was preceded in death by paternal grandfathers Kenneth Mason, Jerry Welch, and Gordon Miller.

Visitation will be from 5:00 to 9:00 p.m. Wednesday (Mar. 24) and 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Thursday (Mar. 25) at Petersen Funeral Home in Newton. Recitation of the Holy Rosary will be at 6:30 p.m. Thursday at St. Mary's Catholic Church. The family will receive friends in the St. Mary's School Cafeteria following the Rosary. Funeral Mass will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday (Mar. 26) at St. Mary's Catholic Church Newton. Private family burial will take place in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Newton.

Memorial Donations may be left with the Girard House or Crisis Intervention Services in care of Petersen Funeral Home.