Jackie Welch

Jackie Welch was a radiant, big-hearted soul who made everyone feel like family from the moment they walked through her door. Her sharp wit, warm smile, and boundless generosity turned ordinary days into small celebrations. Friends and relatives alike recall her as a social spark, always ready to brighten a room with laughter and good cheer.

Jackie was born on December 27, 1928, in Portage, Michigan, at a time when the last echoes of the Roaring Twenties still resonated. Although the nation would soon face hardship, Jackie’s childhood on her family’s 100-acre centennial farm—originally settled by her Scottish great-grandfather—instilled in her a spirit of resilience and gratitude. Raised by Clark and Mabel (Haynes) Doxey, she learned from an early age that hard work and good company were all one needed to find contentment.

It was a friend of hers who introduced her to Gene Welch on a blind date. Though Gene’s quieter demeanor contrasted with Jackie’s effervescent personality, they fit together seamlessly. Married for 52 years, they honeymooned on Mackinac Island, enjoying the lake breeze and dreaming of a future full of laughter and family. At first, they lived in a modest trailer on the farm while Gene built their first home. Then he built three more homes on the farmland, which they lived in until shortly before Gene retired. Then they had built a welcoming home in Portage that reflected Jackie’s love for gatherings. She designed the basement to be the ultimate party space, complete with room for card tables, dancing, and a spot for her piano. Every Friday became “Cocktail and Card Night,” with cars lining the street and neighbors flooding in. While Jackie entertained, Gene often retreated to the barn, content to let his wife delight in the crowds.

Shortly after settling into married life, Jackie worked briefly at Upjohn until her first child was born, then dedicated herself to raising her family. Over the years, she filled many roles, including working at The Mailroom as a helper for Pepe, a greenhouse employee, and lunch lady at the local middle school her daughter Patricia attended—where, famously, Patricia tried skipping school but was swiftly caught by her watchful mother. Jackie’s willingness to pitch in whenever needed became a hallmark of her life.

There was never a dull moment around Jackie, whose extroverted nature made her the life of any party. Holidays, especially Christmas, became major events. She proudly carried on her tradition of making homemade hard candy each year, filling the house with sweet fragrances and even sweeter memories. Sundays found her at church, where she taught Sunday school and guided her family in faith. Summers brought annual trips to Pine Lake, and weekends at her sons cabin in Irons, a tradition she treasured until just a decade ago, relishing sunlit days by the water with her children and grandchildren.

Her devotion to family extended to her role as grandmother, great-grandmother, and even great-great-grandmother. She welcomed all her grandchildren with open arms, babysitting them without hesitation. Outside the home, she reveled in her hobbies, crafting intricate needlepoint pieces and tackling puzzles with gusto, and even handmaking every ornament on her Christmas tree. She loved to cook, seeing every meal as another chance to bring people together. True to her meticulous nature, she visited the hair salon every Friday, keeping a steadfast routine even as she embraced life’s unpredictable turns.

Jackie’s sense of humor was legendary. Determined to hide her age, she would insist she was “39” for decades. She also had a playful streak when it came to gambling. Though she seldom bet much, she once lost a couple hundred dollars at a casino and walked away with only an umbrella—a “very expensive umbrella,” she joked for years. On another occasion, she somehow received a ticket while rowing a boat, courtesy of an overeager officer she likened to Barney Fife. She laughed about these incidents as proof that life was meant to be enjoyed, mishaps and all.

A devout NASCAR fan who also adored the Kentucky Derby, Jackie found excitement in events that brought people together, including her and Gene traveling the US with many friends and family over the years. She was, after all, a firm believer in community; if there was a reason to celebrate, she would seize it. Over the course of her life, she helped countless friends and neighbors, never asking anything in return. Even in her later years, when she began to require assistance, she befriended Wendy—her caretaker from Fresh Perspective—so wholly that Wendy became a true member of the family.

Jackie faced heartbreak, too, losing her husband, Gene, as well as some of her children and grandchildren. Yet her faith, optimism, and capacity for love never waned. She remained dedicated to filling any room she entered with warmth, just as she had done since her days on the farm. In time, her health began to decline, and she spent her final days in Portage, the place where her story began.

On February 26, 2025, Jackie Welch passed away, leaving behind a tapestry of vivid memories woven from laughter, music, and immeasurable kindness. She will be remembered for her gracious spirit, her open-door hospitality, and her unwavering devotion to the people she loved. In the quiet that follows her departure, those who knew her best will forever think of her whenever they hear the lively notes of a jukebox, smell freshly made candy, or see a gathering of friends that spills across a lawn. May her legacy live on in every shared meal, every joyful party, and every heart that dares to remain open to life’s sweetest surprises—just the way Jackie would have wanted.

Jacqueline Welch, age 96, died on February 26. Jackie was preceded in death by her parents: Clark and Mable Doxey; her husband Gene; children: Mike Welch and Kim VanderMeer; and grandchild: Luke Tigchelaar. Surviving are her daughter, Patricia Werner; several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and 1 great-great-grandchild.

Please join us at a Life Story Visitation on Friday, March 21 from 4 – 6PM at Betzler Life Story Funeral Homes, 6080 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo (269) 375-2900 where food, drinks, and stories will be shared. Celebrate Jackie’s life online by sharing your favorite stories and photos on her dedicated webpage at BetzlerLifeStory.com. Memorial contributions may be made to Centrica Care Navigators, from whom Jackie received such wonderful care and kind attention.