James Welter

James F. Welter, 85, of Cape Girardeau died Monday, Oct. 10, 2022, at Chateau Girardeau.

He was born Nov. 12, 1936, in New Hamburg, Missouri, to Zeno and Alma Glaus Welter. He and Carol Ann Hamm were married Oct. 10, 1959, at Oran, Missouri. She preceded him in death May 28, 2014.

Jim attended grade school in New Hamburg and graduated from Benton (Missouri) High School.

He was a member of the American Legion Baseball Team 1952 Missouri State and Regional 8 champions and a member of the Cape Girardeau Jets 1960 Fast Pitch Softball Team Missouri State champion. He was active in Little League Baseball as a manager and won the city championship in 1971. He also enjoyed hunting and fishing.

He had a 43-year banking career. He was with Farmers & Merchants Bank, which later become Boatmen's Bank for 32 years, starting there in 1955. He then worked for Union Planters Bank of Cape Girardeau for 11 years. He received a business management degree from LaSalle Extension University of Chicago and attended the School of Banking at University of Madison, Wisconsin.

Jim was also employed by Ford and Sons Funeral Home as visitation coordinator for 30 years, starting in 1988.

He was a member of St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church. He was a former active member of Cape Girardeau Jaycees and Noon Optimist Club of Cape Girardeau.

He was inducted into the Missouri Army National Guard and served eight years.

Survivors include a son, Timothy Gerard (Laurie) Welter of Cape Girardeau; daughter, Sheila Ann (Vic) Ortega of Springfield, Missouri; two sisters, Marian Holder and Lillian (Larry) Angle of Scott City; four grandchildren, Emily A. (Ian) Rone of Germantown, Tennessee, Nicole M. (Nick) Wiegers of Edmond, Oklahoma, Kaitlin M. (Tyler) Heuring of New Hamburg and Alexis A. Welter of Cape Girardeau; and a great-grandchild, Graham Wiegers.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and wife.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m., with parish prayers at 7 p.m. and Knights of Columbus rosary immediately following, Thursday, Oct. 13, at Ford and Sons Mount Auburn Funeral Home in Cape Girardeau.

Funeral Mass will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Oct. 14, at St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church in Cape Girardeau, with the Rev. Rick Jones officiating. Entombment will be at Cape County Memorial Park Mausoleum in Cape Girardeau.

Memorial contributions may be given to St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church.

Online condolences may be made at www.fordandsonsfuneralhome.com.