David Carl Welke, Sr.

In loving memory of David Carl Welke, Sr. David went to be with his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, surrounded by loved ones at his home on Saturday, November 27, 2021, at the age of 82. David was a devoted husband, loving father, utterly smitten grandfather, and dear friend. He married Maria Welke in 2004 and he was the love of her life. He adored her. The two never fell out of love in all the years of their marriage. David had 3 grown children and 4 grown step-children whom he loved as his very own: David Carl Welke, Jr (deceased in 2020, Portland, OR), Debbie Jean Kelley(Portland, OR), Kelly Dean Welke(Portland, OR), Matthew Lloyd Call(Roosevelt, UT), Michael Elton Call (deceased 4 days before David, Rathdrum, ID), Rod Glen Beierle(Post Falls, ID), Dan Beierle(Clarkston, WA), and his honorary daughter Erica Geary (Post Falls, ID). Grandchildren and Great-Grandchildren were the light of his life. Autumn, Amber, Emmett, Lil Michael, Aubrey, Emma, Ellie, Rachel, Ruby, Shon, Gabe, Peyton, and Gage delighted him with each and every visit, phone call and text. His phone is full of photos of them, messages from them and his home features pictures taken, and artwork made just for Papa. David was a hard worker who started his career at the Nabisco plant in Portland, OR at the age of 18, working there until his early retirement at age 53. David was a gifted artist his entire life. He loved to tell of how he won his first wife, Bonnie’s affections by inviting her up to his studio to paint her picture when they were teenagers. Working mostly in oils early on, he switched to acrylics toward the end of his life. He and Maria spent many hours painting side by side, loving their craft and each other. While living in the Portland area, David indulged his love of cars. When he was a youngster, he would stand up in the back seat of his parent’s car and name the make and model of every vehicle they passed on the road. For many years he raced his car at PIR (Portland International Raceway). When his children were young David spent weekends riding dirt bikes and ATV’s with them out on the dunes and up in the mountains. After his retirement he traveled in his motor home up and down the west coast finally settling in Ocean Park, WA where he met and married his sweetheart, Maria Welke. David loved the ocean and the rain. He would set out and walk for miles with his little buddy Tai (his shi tzu). David loved his fur babies. Not one animal he ever loved escaped his memory and he would regale you with stories of the antics of each one. His other passion was his yard and gardens. No matter the weather, you could find David outside digging a weed up with his pocketknife, fertilizing the grass and/or plants, mowing, edging, watering and transplanting. He took great pride in his work and couldn’t trust the task to anyone else! It paid off. His yard was always one of the most beautiful sights in the neighborhood. David battled congestive heart failure and kidney disease for years, brought on by complications of rheumatic fever as a young boy. Due to his strict regimen as a heavy weightlifter all of his adult life, David far out lived the statistical life expectancy for his condition. About 11 years ago David and Maria moved from the beach back to North Idaho so they could be closer to the kids. It was here that he got to attend his very first live opera performance in nearby Spokane. The man had loved opera since just a teen, singing the songs he heard while in the shower. His music of choice while working out with weights was Pavarotti belting out one of his famous pieces. David had a great sense of humor and was always able to make you smile. Puns and silly antics were always afoot! He had a heart of gold and genuinely cared about others. His faith in the Lord was strong and ran deep. He could tell me the entire story of the Bible, book by book and then apply it to our lives. What a blessing to know and be loved by this man. His absence leaves an unfillable hole in all of our lives. The family are planning on having a memorial service after the first of the year. Please join us as we honor the life of David. April 22, 2022 1-4 pm River of Life Friends Church 3263 E 12th Ave Post Falls, ID 83854