Mervin D. Welp

Mervin Duane Welp was born October 6, 1946 in Wray, Colorado to Wilbert and Elizabeth Welp and passed away on September 12, 2016 at the age of 69 after a long battle with cancer. He was the youngest of four children and was raised on the family farm Northeast of Vernon.
Mervin attended Radner, a small country school for a year and then Vernon School through 8th grade and graduated Wray High School in 1965, during this time he participated in 4-H and FFA activities. In 1966, he joined the Air Force Reserves serving (5) years. He was called active and served at Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina from 1968-1969.

On October 6, 1968, Mervin married Linda Ellen Richards at the St. John’s Lutheran Church in Vernon, Colorado. To this union three children were born, Tonya Lynn, born October 2, 1970, Shannon Dean born September 1, 1971 and Eric Wade completed their family on July 26, 1976.

Mervin and Linda started their life together in South Carolina and after his service they moved South of Wray. In 1971, he started his career in agriculture purchasing a farm West of Vernon, where they raised irrigated corn, pinto beans and dryland wheat along with cattle and sheep. He farmed there until 1983. Since he had a strong passion for farming, he spent the rest of his life working in agriculture. He worked for Wray Grain, Jack Bond, Wilder Farms and the spent the last 18 years helping Mike Roth in Yuma, Colorado.

Mervin was a strong man and could do amazing things on the farm. He especially enjoyed the planting and harvest seasons. He was hard working and in his free time would spend many hours in his vegetable and flower garden. He also enjoyed building bird houses, working on his cars and many other projects around the homestead. With his many projects, he rarely came into the house until after dark.

He was always dedicated to his job but also a caring and loving husband, father and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Mervin was proceeded in death by his grandparents and father, Wilbert Welp. He is survived by his mother, Elizabeth Welp of Wray, CO, wife, Linda Welp of Wray, CO, daughter, Tonya Smith and husband, Elmer of Yuma, CO, son Shannon Welp and wife, Megan of Wray, CO, son, Eric Welp of Vernon, CO, brother, Vencil Welp and wife, Shirley of Strasburg, CO, sister, Estalene Wudke and husband, Glenn of Idalia, CO, brother, Dennis Welp and wife, Sharon of Strasburg, CO. He is also survived by grandchildren, Damian, Sadie, Naomi, Alicia, Elizabeth, Braden, Darin, Chloe, Reagan, Zachary, Thomas as well as many nieces, nephews and friends.

Visitation will be held at the Schmidt-Jones Funeral Home, 427 Adams Street, Wray, Colorado on Thursday, September 15, 2016 from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Funeral services were held at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Wray on September 16, 2016 and the Interment was held at the Glendale Cemetery near Vernon, CO.

Memorials may be made to the Mervin D. Welp Memorial Fund in care of First Pioneer National Bank, 145 W. 4th Street, Wray, CO 80758 or Vernon Volunteer Fire Department.

Schmidt – Jones Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.