Theresa Welker

Theresa Margaret Neumann-Welker, 87, died Thursday, August 16, 2007, at her residence. Her family was by her side. Born October 12, 1919, in New Verbas, Yugoslavia, the only child of Jakob and Theresa Greifenstein Neumann. She grew up and was educated in Yugoslavia and then she and her parents became refugees for two years after the Russian occupation of their village after World War II. Theresa came to the United States on March 13, 1951, settling in Mansfield. She met and married Peter Welker who also immigrated from Yugoslavia on January 31, 1953. She was proud to become a United States citizen in 1957. Theresa and Peter had one son, Norbert Peter Welker, born in January of 1956. He was their pride and joy. Both Theresa and Peter, although well educated in Europe but not knowing the language, took jobs in factories to support themselves, their son and their parents who resided with them. Theresa and Peter were proud to see their son graduate from the Ohio State University. Theresa was a kind and caring woman always helping others before herself. She provided rides to appointments to friends who no longer drove and sent food to friends who were ill or in need of comfort. She will be greatly missed by the two most important people in her life, her two grandchildren, Cameron and Rylee Welker. They were her greatest motivation to keep going the last 15 years. They spent almost every Saturday night at her house just hanging out and watching television with her. They spent many afternoons at Kingwood Center, Malabar Farm or McDonald's Playland with her when they were small. She picked them up from school every day. In her eyes, there never were two more perfect children. They learned from her to be kind to others and to be proud of whom they are. Theresa retired from United Technologies to take care of her elderly mother. She was a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Ontario but was also involved in the church of her parents', St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church on Central Avenue.

Theresa is survived by her son, Norbert and his wife Annette who had the great privilege of taking care of her the last days of her life; her grandchildren, Cameron Peter Welker and Rylee Kay Welker; and many friends and relatives here and in Europe. She was preceded in death by her husband, Peter Welker in 1981; her parents; and many friends and relatives.

Funeral services will be 11:00 p.m. Tuesday, August 21, 2007, at the Diamond Street Home of Wappner Funeral Directors conducted by the Rev. Renato Siewert. Friends may call from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the funeral home on Tuesday. A private family burial will be held at Mansfield Cemetery. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to St. Peter's Evangelical Lutheran Church.