James (Jim) Michael Welch
August 9, 1950 ~ November 27, 2015
James (Jim) Michael Welch at age 65, passed away on November 27, 2015, at the Dougherty Hospice Home in Sioux Falls, SD. He was surrounded by his loving children and grandchildren.
A Celebration of Jim’s life will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2015 at 1PM at the Heartland Funeral Home with visitation beginning at noon. Jim will receive full military honors. A gathering for family and friends will be held, immediately after, at the Cascade Room located at the Holiday Inn City Centre, downtown Sioux Falls, SD from 3-7PM.
Jim was born August 9, 1950, in La Crosse, WI, to Myron and Clara Welch. He was raised in La Crosse, WI, graduating from Central High School and attending the University of Wisconsin, La Crosse. Jim served in the military for 12 years in both the Navy and Army. His true calling was his distinguished service as a Police Officer in Fayetteville, NC where he served duties as a Patrol Officer, Training Officer and Leader of the Fugitive Squad. Jim retired with honors from the Fayetteville Police Department.
Jim had a true passion for body building in which he earned numerous trophies as a young man that includes bench press champion in his weight class in Wisconsin and was followed by trophies for benching 400 pounds at age 50, in North Carolina. He was the pillar of strength both physical and mental. Jim was an avid reader. Some of his favorite authors were Tom Clancy and Steven King. He was intrigued by murder mysteries. Jim later transitioned to watching TV shows such as CSI and Law and Order, where he would consistently pointed out the legal flaws in the shows from his years of Law Enforcement training.
The Denver Broncos always had a fan when Jim was watching. Jim also had a passion for training dogs. His favorite pet was a pit bull named Peaches that reached the ripe old age of 14. Peaches was trained to protect the home and ensure his son, Bill had a constant guardian while Jim was working.
Jim will be greatly missed by his lovely daughter, Michelle, son, Bill, and grandchildren, Alyssa and Billy. He has one brother, Michael, and a lifelong friend, Everette. Jim also filled the father role to Marissa. His guidance turned boys into men and he will never be forgotten.
Jim was preceded in death by his parents.
Jim will be missed mostly by his loving family and friends as well as the community of Fayetteville, NC as he dedicated his life to creating a better place for residents to live while he served as a Law Enforcement Officer. Heaven has received another guardian angel. His primary duty now is to look over his family and friends and provide the spiritual guidance that they will need to continue living life and making Jim proud from the heavens above.
Dad (Jim),
I have known you for half of my life, you have always been such an amazing person to me and for that I will forever be grateful. Thank you so much for loving me the way you did. You will be missed dearly, but I have you in my heart, my thoughts and my memories. You made me laugh with all the funny and quirky things you said and did BUT the best part about you is how you loved my babies, your grand babies with all of your heart. They are two of the luckiest kids in the world to have you be there for them the way you did and will continue to be there for them as their guardian angel. We love you dad/grandpa/Jim and there won’t be a day that we don’t think about you.
Specialist Welch is what I would have called him for he was my Training Officer at the Fayetteville Police Department 14 years ago. He was greatly missed when he retired and even more so now. I will always remember the smell of rice and chicken covered in ketchup which was his favorite. He was a very soft spoken, gentle and compassionate man who didn’t mind a good fight every now and then. He never had to worry about running after a suspect for he would have them in handcuffs before they even thought of it. He had the strength of “Sampson in the Bible.” He spoke highly of his Son in the Military, his Son’s Wife and Grandchild he loved to visit on occasion. He will always be dear and close to my heart. Your family will be uplifted in prayer.
Officer Stacy J. Sanders
Fayetteville Police Department
I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Jim 14 years, we share grandchildren and I’ll always remember the love in his eyes every time he spoke their names. He face would light up as soon as he saw them. I’m eternally grateful for the love he showed to my daughter, protected them, and was a constant presence in their lives. Jim you were my friend, you will be missed. Rest in peace.
I am so sorry to hear of Jim’s passing! He was always a joy to work with and dispatch for. Thank you for all of your hard work and dedication to this city. 226 is 10-42. RIP #226.
Citycom124
The Fayetteville Police Department remembers Jim well and is sorry to hear about his passing. He was a great guy and represented the badge with honor while working for us. We will keep his family in our prayers.
Jim was a GREAT guy and police officer. I was fortunate enough to have him as my training officer when I was a new police officer. I learned a lot from him and went to him constantly for advice. I always consider him as a mentor and more importantly a brother. He always referred to me a “little brother” and I always called him “big brother”. RIP Big Brother!
All my love to Bill and the family. Jim remains one of my all time favorite officers from my time at Fayetteville Police Dispatch.
Try your best to be strong, as he would want you to.
Sincere Condolences,
Michelle Mills
Operator 33
Jim you will be missed by all your Fayetteville PD Family. I will always have fond memories of our days on the road.
I knew Welch from seeing him at the jail or in the hallways of the PD. Welch always had a smile and was “squared away.” See you some day brother. God’s grace on the family.
Jim was a great officer and a good friend. It was a pleasure to work with him on the Fayetteville Police Department and i will miss him.
I was greatly saddened to hear of the passing of Jim. We became friends when I worked at the Cumberland County Detention Center and we kept in touch after he retired and moved on. I looked forward to our Facebook chats and will miss him terribly. RIP Jim and know you were loved by many
Kelli Robinson
I’m truly sorry. I worked with Welch and I’m proud to have served with him. Fair, honest, dedicated and someone I could always trust to have my back. Rest easy brother.
Jim was kind to everyone. I was proud to call him my brother in blue. There will never be another like him. Rest well my sweet friend. You will be missed.
I first met Jim when he was at Ft Leonardwood Mo. He was a young 12B trainee and I was his drill Sergeant. I ran into Jim again at Ft Bragg when I was a First Sergeant in the 20th Engineer Bde and he was also in the unit. Then Jim became a Fayetteville City Police Officer and I went to work as a deputy sheriff with the Cumberland County Sheriff’s Office. Jim was an excellent soldier and police Officer. He always did the harder right and would never cut corners or take the easy way out. It was an honor to serve with Jim in the military and again in law enforcement. Jim Welch was a fine man and trusted friend and the world will be worse off with out him.
Gary Owens
The passing of Jim leaves a void in many hearts. He touched many lives while he was a Fayetteville Police Officer both in the community and within the department. He loved his family, his dog, and his chosen profession. He always projected a professional demeanor. Bottom line…Jim was a fine man and a fine officer. He will be missed but never forgotten.
The passing of Jim is very sad. I had the honor and privilege of working with him throughout his career at the Fayetteville Police Department. The city of Fayetteville was very fortunate to have a person serving the community for so many years. Jim had a great heart and was a true professional in every meaning of the word. My thoughts and prayers are with his family as he will be truly missed.
Jim Welch was not just a police officer but he was THE definition of a police officer. I was fortunate enough to have had a chance to get to know Welch having joined the Fayetteville Police Department before he retired. Jim Welch was a very good man. To his family, I pray for you. Losing someone is always difficult, especially during the holiday season, but I hope your family will find great pride in knowing how many people admired Jim. May God bless and keep you.
I’ve knew Jim since 1990. He was a great guy, an odd bird, an honest man, a quiet man. Very few people knew his depth and I believe he liked it that way. Rest in peace my friend.
Jim Welch, Sir you will be missed and I will as along as I live tell your stories. Jim was a great cop, and an awesome guy all around. He was my last training officer and the guy that introduced me to the zone 11 experience as seen during the walking beat. There will never be another Jim Welch. I salute you, sir!
Even though we were both working in law enforcement in the Fayetteville area we never really worked together. We became friends at the gym. I always enjoyed our conversations and his dedication to working out. I did know of his reputation as one of The police dept. Finest. His friendship will be missed. My prayers to his family.
My thoughts and prayers go out to Jim’s Family. I was fortunate to have Jim, take me under his wing as a young officer. His knowledge and experience helped me out greatly, and his words of wisdom I still follow today! With a heavy heart I thank you Jim! You will truly be missed.
My thoughts and prayers are with Jim and his family. Prayers for PEACE for Jim and his family. It was an honor to care for Jim in his last days.
I knew Jim for 11 years as a Fayetteville Police Officer. He was one of the best. His physical ability was well known and respected by Cops and feared by the bad guys. Rest in Peace old friend. My thoughts and prayers follow for your family during this time of painful transition.
sorry to here the passing of my best friend in high school. having been trying to locate for the last couple of years. had phone # in nc. but lost it. RIP my good friend. for the last time
as i called you in high school and when on leave from the service. we will meet again bar-bell
gregg the bare olson
RIP Welch. You were a funny dude. You will be missed.
Sorry to hear about this. Welch was a straight shooter. The last time I spoke with him was at the fuel pump. We talked about some strange topic about space. Welch was a great guy. RIP buddy.