Gary Lee Welch, age 79 died on Sunday, September 24, 2023. Gary grew up on a farm outside of Braddyville, Iowa and later moved to Hastings, Nebraska, where he graduated from High School in 1962. He received his bachelor's degree from Hastings College and then earned a Masters of Social Work degree from the University of Nebraska and was a Licensed Independent Social Worker. He worked as a School Social Worker, a Family Therapist and Psychiatric Social Worker for over 40 years. He married his high school sweetheart, Colleen in 1968 and they had two boys, Eric and Jason.
Gary served three terms on the Ankeny City Council and served as chair of the Metro Waste Authority Board. He was a leader with the Ankeny Chamber of Commerce and was honored as Ankeny Citizen of the Year for 1997. He was the founding chair of the Neveln Community Resource Center and also chaired the Community Education Advisory Council and served in the Citizen's Police Academy. He also enjoyed being Santa over many seasons. He always had a twinkle in his eye and enjoyed making children smile.
Gary joined the Rotary Club of Ankeny in 1999, served as President for 2004-2005, and was the District 6000 Governor for 2010-2011. He was a Paul Harris Fellow, traveled to Mexico and Nigeria for Rotary mission trips and enjoyed traveling the world with his Rotary family. He cofounded the annual Rotary Youth Leadership Academy (RYLA), a life changing leadership training program for youth across Iowa. He and Colleen also enjoyed hosting three Rotary exchange students for Italy, Sweden, and Japan.
Gary lived the Rotary motto of "Service Above Self" and will truly be missed by all who knew him.
