Richard Kinsley Welle Jr.

Richard Kinsley Welle, Jr. was born June 24, 1926 in Denver, Colorado, to Richard K. Welle, Sr. and Marguerite B. Welle. Richard passed away at the age of 95, on Thanksgiving morning November 25th, 2021. Richard was at his home in Centennial, Colorado when he passed away, just as his beloved wife Eleanor had passed away in their home five years earlier. Richard and Eleanor loved their home that they had lived in since 1963, had raised their three children in, and where they had welcomed grandchildren and great grandchildren into the family, so much that both of them made it clear that they wished to be at home until their final day.

Richard was a character. He had a great sense of humor and a great loud and contagious laugh to go with it. Richard had just one brother, Jack Jordan Welle, who was three and a half years younger. Jack passed away at the very young age of 29 and Richard missed him greatly. While Richard and Jack were kids, and along with a cousin, Bill Jordan, Jr., they got into all kinds of mischief and just great kid fun. From building a “cave” hide-out (with a board ceiling covered with dirt) in the dirt lot behind their house, to finding a can of paint in the garage and figured the Pontiac needed painting, “it didn’t. We were placed in maximum security!”

Richard’s sense of humor was a constant. There was just about not any subject or situation that he could not find humor in. When Eleanor’s best friend, Sis Wilson, introduced them for a blind date during high school, Richard’s happiness and humor were most likely a big part of the attraction. From that point forward Richard and Eleanor were inseparable. Richard left high school in 1944 to join the Navy and serve his country during World War II. Eleanor vowed to wait for his return. Richard was assigned to a destroyer, the USS “James C. Owens” DD776, and served mainly in the South Pacific. When the war ended and Richard returned to Denver in June 1946 he completed high school at The Randal private school. But the very first thing, in Richard’s mind, was that he married Elle on February 9th, 1947!

Right after the war Richard took a job helping to build the Cherry Creek Dam. He was helping with the excavation and drove a huge “Yuke” dump truck. Later, every time we drove by the Dam he said, “You know, I helped build that, and it’s still standing!” Very soon though he found a job starting out in the finance business. This started his life long career in the Credit Life Insurance business where he did very well. He covered territories throughout Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, Utah and beyond. Many thousands of miles driving and in many, many different cars. He did always love cars and being on the road, so this was considered by him to be a perk. Richard was a very good salesman and along with his sense of humor he made friends and clients everywhere he went. He won sales contests over many years. By winning sales goals he earned many trips and he and Eleanor traveled to numerous locations around the country and the world. After many years in the business, Richard was able to start his own Insurance Agency. He worked very hard at building it into a successful agency and was able to sell it and retire early.

Richard was devoted to being a Mason and a Shriner. He and Eleanor enjoyed working many charity events for the Shriner’s Children’s Hospitals over the years.

Throughout his life Richard loved boats and being out on the water. During his working career he made sure that his family was out enjoying the water every possible weekend and vacation time that he could. This involved many trips to Horsetooth Reservoir, Lake of the Ozarks, Flaming Gorge, Grand Lake and Blue Mesa Lake. Once Richard retired there was no stopping him. He owned many boats and was never without one. He and Eleanor even bought a “big” boat in San Diego and lived on it part time. Once they sold the “big” boat Richard added Motorhome RV’s and 4-wheel Jeeps to their retirement! Richard was an avid Fisherman and nearly all of their travels took them to water. He fished many places across the country including Alaska, Florida, California, Arizona, Flaming Gorge, and Hawaii where he caught a Blue Marlin. Blue Mesa Lake was Richard and Eleanor’s most special place and Richard loved being on the lake and catching Kokanee Salmon. They truly enjoyed sharing their Gunnison home with their family and all of their many friends, including their very dear friends Jim and Kathy Martin who shared that special place from right “next door”. Richard was even still out on the boat catching fish at Blue Mesa when he was 93 and 94 years old!!

Richard and Eleanor had a truly great life raising a family, working, and traveling all over the world, and in all of it they were always together. Richard greatly missed his Elle this past 5 and a half years, and although we miss both of them immensely, we find joy in knowing that they are once again back together.

Richard and Eleanor are survived by their three children Mark Sr. (Barbara), Catherine (David), and Rick III (Rhonda); 6 Grandchildren: Mark Jr. (Bernadette), Andrea (Bill); Rick IV (Stephanie), Ryan (Trish); Jordan (Leigh), and Erin (Derrick); and 13 Great Grandchildren: Mark III (Katharine), Connor; Will, Jack; Shane, Cole; James, Vaughn, Henry; Molly; Olivia, Zephyr, and Atticus.

Richard - - - He was our Character - - - and we loved him!