Earl Gene Welli

December 7, 1939 - November 20, 2018

Earl Gene Welli, 78, died November 20, 2018, at Parkwood Village in Pratt, Kansas. The family will receive visitors from 3-5 p.m. Sunday at Larrison Mortuary, 300 Country Club Rd. in Pratt. The funeral service will be at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 26, 2018 at the Iuka United Methodist Church, 302 McClellan, with the Rev. Louis Keeling presiding. Burial will be in the Iuka Cemetery. Earl was born in Pratt, Kansas on December 7, 1939 to George and Esther (Swafford) Welli of Iuka, Kansas. He graduated from Pratt High School in 1957 and Pratt Junior College in 1959 with an Associate of Arts in Liberal Arts. He worked for Woolwine Supply Co. in Pratt and Medicine Lodge from 1959 to 1961, then joined the Kansas Air National Guard, receiving his Basic Military Training at the Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. He received an Honorable Discharge in 1962. He continued with college and received a Bachelor of Science in Business from Kansas State Teachers College in Emporia, Kansas in 1964. He also attended the University of Tulsa in 1966 taking additional accounting courses. Earl worked in Accounting for oil companies in Tulsa, Oklahoma; Houston, Texas and Denver, Colorado. In the late 70's, he moved back to Pratt to farm. He loved to ski in the mountains of Colorado, and he had a passion for Mustang automobiles. He was a member of the Iuka United Methodist Church and sang in the church choir for many years. He is survived by a brother, Stan Welli, Downers Grove, IL, an aunt, Doris Ward, Pratt, KS, nephews Mike Welli and his wife Jeanine, Wichita, KS, David Welli and his wife Megan Brooks, Lakeville, MN, Steven Welli and his wife Maureen, West Allis, WI and nieces Leslie Emmel, Janesville, WI, Lisa Welli, Joliet, IL and Susan Welli, Houston, TX. He is also survived by his Iuka neighbors, Robert and Leigh Ann Hall, who helped care for him for many years and a special friend, Jan Berry, who stepped in to provide assistance when help was needed. Earl was preceded in death by his parents, George J. Welli and Esther M. Welli, as well as his brother, Larry J. Welli. Memorials may be made to the Iuka United Methodist Church or the Iuka Memorial Day Program, in care of the mortuary. The family of Earl Welli wishes to thank the staff at Parkwood Village, Interim Healthcare, and the Iuka Methodist Church. Online condolences may be left at www.larrisonmortuary.com.