John Welch
John Welch was my father in law; he passed away in 2012 at the age of 80. This was his eulogy:
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Times like today are a poignant reminder of the short time we are given to carve a path through the landscape God has given us to work with.
As limiting as language can be, it's one of the conduits we have to explore the paths that people leave – leading from themselves, to friends and family, to the One who is aware of our *all* our moral successes and failures in the short time we spend on the planet - our wives.
Words are particularly appropriate in John's case; he plied them in his law practice, reveled in them in his love of reading, meditated on them in his faith, and used them colorfully when the family dog positioned himself in a perfect tripping position between John and the couch.
John was born in Chicago on February 19, 1932. He came to Canada and lived in Winnipeg for 14 years, graduating from the University of Manitoba in 1954, then moving to Vancouver to attend law school.
Ever the man of action - John did double duty in 1960, graduating from law school, and marrying the love of his life, Rosemary, who he met on a blind date. They had four children and seven grandchildren, who they love dearly. John and Rosemary celebrated their 50th anniversary in 2010.
John was a lover of literature, history, music, and a fine classical piano player. There are competing theories as to how he developed into such a renaissance man:
One was that his snoring - which could be felt three floors away and made the family seriously consider seismic upgrading to the house - had secret strengthening powers
Another was that his prodigious fluid intake fortified him into the man of action we all knew him to be. John was the one of the last of the '4-liter-a-day-men'. Actually, he might have been the first. Word on the street is that shares in Dairyland have taken a significant hit since John's passing.
A third theory as to how he developed into such a renaissance man was that his knowledge of comparative religion gave him unique and actionable insight into his fellow man. A lifelong faithful and dedicated Catholic, the secrets of the East were never anathema to him – as - remote in hand - he often solemnly declared he was going to become one with the couch.
John was a kind man, volunteering at UBC hospital, reading to elementary school children, and accepting all into his house to sup on his unintentionally flame broiled bbq masterpieces or, and I quote, his ''inimitable Chicken ala King"
He liked his soup hot, his fluids cold, and continuous, and his involvement in household projects limited to supervising, or, at most, intervening expertly with a glue gun.
As difficult as it is to say farewell to the many roles John played - a husband, father, grandfather, father in law, brother, musician, lawyer, master-relaxer, volunteer, and intellectual, we can take solace in the living legacy he left, ever present in the hearts and actions of his progeny, grandchildren, friends and family.
The path that John carved will continue to grow as we remember him. The next time you have a cold glass of skim milk, partake in a desert glass of creme-de-menthe, or decide to two fist ice cream cones like they are going of style, think of John - a man of kindness, gentleness, humour and love.
Rest in Peace John.
