Robert "Bob" Ivan Welch

Robert Welch dedicated over 50 years to education, sharing his knowledge and inspiring growth in the fields of landscaping, horticulture, and alternative energy. Bob grew up with a dream of teaching. At 17, Bob started to fulfill his dream as a student teaching assistant at Michigan State University (MSU). He went on to create the Landscape and Horticulture Program, Precision Agriculture, Alternative Energy Program, and the first 2-year degree program in the United States for the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) at Lansing Community College. He also founded a landscape design company, LandTenders, while raising his three sons with his wife Cindy.

Bob's passion for education took him across the country as a lecturer. He connected with countless professionals in horticulture, landscaping, and farming communities through dozens of organizational platforms like GIS, ESRI, and AgrowKnowledge. He earned numerous prestigious awards throughout his career, recognizing his contributions to both education and his field. Bob’s legacy of hard work, dedication, and mentorship will live on in the many lives he touched. With a vibrant personality and a gift for making others feel at ease, Bob lit up every room he entered. He loved traveling, rock collecting, gardening, and sitting with a lap cat. Never one to shy away from a gathering, Bob thrived in social settings. There wasn’t a place you could go where he didn’t have a friend or make a new one.

Bob will be remembered for his boundless energy, contagious laugh, warm smile, and unforgettable sense of humor. He brought joy wherever he went and left a lasting impression on everyone he met. Bob is survived by his loving wife, Cindy; his three sons, Michal, Dr. Charles (Dr. Allison Lahnala), and Elliot (Lena Porell); and his sister, Lori. He is preceded in death by his parents Carl (Ike) Ivan Welch, and Beatrice (Bea) Welch.

A celebration of Bob's life will be held at a later date.

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