Jane Ann Welch

Jane Ann Welch, 78, of Kansas City, Missouri, left us long before we were ready on Monday, February 24, 2025. When her physical heart lost its power, her spiritual heart began its victorious beating with Jesus.

Jane Ann was born March 25, 1946, in Fayetteville, AR to Robert and Marjorie (Smith) Collier. She graduated from Raytown High School, William Jewell College, University of Missouri-Kansas City (Masters), and University of Kansas (Doctorate).

After staying at home to raise her kids, she reclaimed her educational path and began dual careers in music education and worship ministry. She made music and directed Broadway shows with students and colleagues she loved in the Blue Valley Schools, after her first teaching job in the Kansas City Missouri Public Schools.

Growing up in her father’s music ministry, she served alongside him as pianist and children’s choir leader at Birchwood Baptist Church, Independence, MO. She would go on to serve on the staffs of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Overland Park, KS and First Baptist Church, Raytown, MO (now Connection Point). She resumed her passion for piano students as Director of Celebration Academy of the Arts. In her retirement, she continued personal ministry, hosting Bible studies in her home and leading a Life Group alongside her husband. While she enjoyed church ministries, it was the calling to her family relationships that kept her sweet heart beating as long as it could last.

Jane Ann is reunited in Glory with her parents and grandparents, a baby she never got to meet, and a host of family and friends she loved and missed.

Dr. Jane Ann Welch is survived by her husband, Warren, of Kansas City, MO; daughters, Lisa Wilson and Lori Hammons and son, Darren (Kathi) Welch, and brother, Robert E. Collier, III. She was “Grandma Jane” or “Grammy” to grandchildren, Gregori Hammons and Malori Hammons Godinez, Joseph, LeeAnn and James Wilson: and great-grandchildren Heidi Pfeifer, Sayge and Jayse Godinez, Logan Wilson and another on the way. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, cousins and in-laws. She is already missed by all of us.

Contributions may be made in her memory to the Music Ministry of Connection Point Church or her favorite orphanage in Guatemala, Friends of Children Everywhere-The Salgueros. (www.foce.org)