Michael Leroy Welch

A Memorial Service will be held 11:00 a.m., on August 5th, 2023, at the Inola Senior Citizens Center located at 205 S Broadway Ave, Inola, OK 74036. 
 
Michael Leroy Welch, passed away at home surrounded by his loved ones on July 31, 2023, at the age of 59.
 
He was born on February 17, 1964, in Tulsa, Oklahoma to his parents Jack and Lavonda Welch.  After graduating from Nathan Hale High School in 1982, Michael embarked on a successful career working as a sales manager for C.R. Anthony for many years before expanding his professional pursuits. He briefly worked in newspaper sales where he met the love of his life, Kimberly, in 1988 and married on August 4,1989 in Tulsa where they went on to raise their four daughters.
 
If you asked a hundred people who Mike Welch was, they’d probably all tell he was a jokester, a prankster, and a storyteller. No matter the occasion, Mike had a story. He loved to make people laugh and was good at it.  While his kids were growing up, Mike would pay the youngest daughter to prank the older ones by turning around their posters or putting old boyfriends’ pictures in frames. He’d pretend to get on to her while secretly high fiving when no one was looking. From the time he was young he had a wild imagination and people were drawn to him. Mike would create nicknames for everyone he met. Whatever he made up, he called them that forever and it was always a nickname that was happily embraced.   
 
Michael found joy in various hobbies and loved spending quality time with his family and grandbabies.  He cherished weekend game nights with his 4 girls. If karaoke was available Mike would always be showing off his vocals and making new friends. He loved creating memories at the Illinois river fishing and camping both as a child and with his own children. As an avid fan of the Denver Broncos, he never missed an opportunity to show support for his favorite team.  Mike was a proud father and never missed the chance to root for his kids. Whether at a cheer competition or the softball fields, Mike was always there. He always showed up and was nicknamed “the true cheer dad”. His favorite nickname of all was “Papa”.
 
Survivors include his wife Kimberly Welch, daughters, and sons-in-law: Amber Madden and Joseph Raniewicz, Stephanie Madden and Dayton Ries, Tiffany Welch and Randall Smith, and Brittany Welch and Jason Lindsay. His grandchildren – Joseph Raniewicz, Keicyn, Kennedy, and Kenzyngton Gougler, Kailer Smith, and Michael Welch – held a special place in his heart. His Brothers: Donald Welch & Family and Ronald Welch & Family.
 
He is preceded in death by his parents, Jack and Lavonda Welch and brother Ricky Welch.