James G. Welsh was born October 2, 1926 at St. Paul, NE., the son of Irma and David Welsh. Jim moved with his family to Ogallala in 1928 and has resided in the area ever since.

He attended Ogallala Public Schools kindergarten through high school, graduating in 1944. He then entered the  Naval Air Force . In 1946 he married Dorothy A. Tillson. They opened a business called Welsh's Men's Wear, and also sold western wear and tack. Jim began farming on a small scale in his spare time in 1947 and continued operating the store.

In 1951 Jim sold the store and moved to the country to farm and ranch full time. He continued farming and ranching for 57 years before retiring in 2004. He and his father were the initial Charter Members of the Nebraska Wheat Growers Association. The Junior Chamber of Commerce awarded him the 'Outstanding Young Farmer' trophy and a few years later he was awarded the Twin Platte Conservation Recognition for the conservation on his farm. He was a Charter Member of the Elks Club and a lifetime member of 60 years. Jim was a member of the American Legion and a member of the Berean Church (now known as New Hope Church) and served as groundskeeper for many years. He was secretary of the Keith County Agricultural Society for 16 years and was active with his daughters and grandchildren in horse 4-H and high school rodeo.

Jim had several hobbies including hunting and fishing in Nebraska and annually took camping trips to Wyoming and Colorado for elk and deer hunting. For many years Jim and several friends drove into Canada, then took float planes to isolated lakes to hunt and fish. He loved square dancing, ballroom dancing, and clogging. At an early age in junior high Jim took woodworking classes and later in life traveled to Doane College and many other areas to woodworking workshops. In 1990 he worked beside a commercial artist with the medium being shed moose antlers, and he continued working with them over a period of ten years. Jim had his sculptures exhibited in many art shows and has patrons owning his work in 32 states, Canada and Mexico.

After Jim married Geraldine 'Gerry' J. Read in 1985 they began spending five months each winter in the Rio Grande Valley of Texas. While there Jim continued antler sculpturing and joined his wife in teaching clogging routines over a 22 year period, and enjoyed square dancing several times a week.

Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister Patty Ann Cross.

Survivors include:

His wife Gerry Welsh of Brule,
Three daughters:  Sherry and her husband Larry Chandler; Cindy and and husband Orlando Torres, all of Brule; Deb and her husband Al Kiernan of Ogallala.
One brother Mike Welsh and his wife Karen of Ogallala.
Three Step-daughters:  Kelly (Scott) Crabtree and Karen (Andrew) Dean, all of Joshua, TD;  Kay (Tim) Laplante of Westfield, IN
Grandsons: Jody Osborn of Wichita, KS; Eddie Morrison of Rapid City, SD; Riley Chandler and Todd Chandler, both of Brule
Granddaughters: Anna Morrison of Rapid City, SD; Rose Morrison of Hot Springs, SD;  Edie Marie Morrison, Brule NE; and Codi Chandler of Wallace, NE.
Step-grandsons: Kyle Dean of Joshua, TX and T.J. Laplante of Westfield, IN
Step-granddaughter Paige Laplante of Westfield, IN.
Eleven great-grandchildren and several nephews & nieces.

Visitation will be Monday, May 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. at Draucker Funeral Home.

Funeral Service will be Tuesday, May 27, at 2:30 p.m. in the New Hope Worship Center on East "O" Street in Ogallala. Rev. Mark Carlton will officiate.

Interment in the Ash Hollow Cemetery with military honors by the Keith County Veterans Organization. A memorial has been established to the Nebraska Children's Home, 3549 Fontanelle Blvd., Omaha, NE 68104