William A. Welsheimer, Sr.

William A. Welsheimer, Sr., 93, of Orange City, FL, formerly of South Bend and Mishawaka died peacefully at 7:50 a.m.  Tuesday, January 11th in his residence, in Orange City.  Bill was born April 3, 1928 in South Bend to the late Ruth M. (Waterson) and Arthur C. Welsheimer and lived his retirement years in Stuart and Orange City, FL.  On March 17, 1951 in Wabash, IN he married the love of his life, Anna M. Wiles who preceded him in death December 25, 2019.  He was also preceded in death by a son, Kurt P. Welsheimer, in 1962.  He is survived by a daughter, Carol L. Adams of Indianapolis, IN; two sons, William A. Welsheimer, Jr. (Mary) of Mishawaka and David W. Welsheimer (Maralee) of Hudson, IN; grandchildren, Drew (Destinee), Holly (Kyle), Lindsay (Joshua), Shelby (Logan), Kurtis, Shayna (Brooks), and Chelsea (Blake); and five great-grandchildren.

Bill retired as Chairman of the Board of Welsheimer Funeral Home, Inc. which he affiliated with in 1952 with his father and mother and became co-owner with his mother, Ruth, at the death of his father in 1953.  He served as President until 1987.  He was educated in the South Bend schools, graduating from Central High School, and attended Tennessee Military Institute, Hanover College, and Indiana College of Mortuary Science. 

Bill was a long-time active member of First United Methodist Church in South Bend, where he served on many committees, and currently was a member of Orange City United Methodist Church.  He was a board member of the former Tower Federal Savings and Loan and Hanover College Trustees of which he was a member from 1989 to 1998.  He was the recipient of the Alumni Achievement Award for Hanover College.  Bill was a member and Past President of many organizations including, South Bend-Mishawaka YMCA, Sons of the American Revolution, Hearing and Speech Center, Hanover Alumni Association, Hamilton Grove Retirement Community, and Indiana Funeral Directors Association.  He was a founding board member of the Center for Hospice Care and South Bend Heritage Foundation.  He was an Honorary Trustee of the Northern Indiana Historical Society and was a well-known authority of the Civil War.  One of his great joys was to take trips with his Civil War buddies for trips each year to some of the historic battlefields. 

Bill retired as Senior Chief of the U.S. Naval Reserve where he served for 24 years.  He was a member of many masonic organizations including St. Joseph Lodge #45 F.&A.M., Scottish Rite Valley of South Bend where he served as Thrice Potent Master of the Lodge of Perfection.  He was Past Commander and Chief of the South Bend Consistory, Past-President of the Board of Trustees of the Valley of South Bend, a member of the York Rite, Red Cross of Constantine, Royal Order of Jesters and Societas Rosicrusians. He was also a member of Orak Shrine Temple of which he was a Past-Potentate and received the Honorary 33rd Degree as a member of the Supreme Council.

Bill loved his family tremendously and after moving to Florida in the 1990’s would take great pleasure in their visits.  Besides all his community activities he always found time to dote over his brood.  He loved to get on the floor and play with his grandbabies. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 18th in the Palmer Funeral Home – Welsheimer North Chapel, 17033 Cleveland Rd. where the family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. until the time of the service.  Rev. Matthew Landry of First United Methodist Church will officiate.  Graveside services and burial will follow in Highland Cemetery where he will be laid to rest with his loving wife, Anne and beloved son, Kurt.

 Memorial contributions in Bill’s memory may be made to Hospice Foundation, 501 Comfort Pl., Mishawaka, IN, 46544 (foundationforhospice.org) or South Bend Heritage Foundation, 803 Lincoln Way West, South Bend, IN, 46616 (southbendheritage.org).

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