Ingelore H. Welch, 91, passed away on May 26, 2016 of post- surgical complications. She was born and raised in Duren, (Rhineland) Germany on October 27, 1924 as the only child of Hans Hermann Freitag and Carolina Krause Freitag.
Ingelore loved life and treasured many interesting and varied life experiences. She was known as a wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, businesswoman, arts aficionado, but most of all as a loyal and good friend to many. She was a woman of enduring strength, particularly overcoming many medical challenges, and was recognized by family and friends as being "a classy lady."
She was married to David E. Welch, a Bloomington native and GI stationed in Germany shortly after World War II. They met in Munich where she and her family had fled after losing everything in the war. This led to an enduring love of nearly fifty years of marriage, which ended in 1995 when her husband died prematurely. Four children survive: Irene of Detroit; David L. (Peggy) of Bloomington; Hans (Nancy) of Leonardtown, MD and Ted Welch of Bloomington. She was the grandmother of David E. Welch II (Rejni) of Bloomington and the great-grandmother of their three children, Giacomo, Kalyan and Estelle. She treasured the blessing of enjoying a long life to include these great grandchildren.
While raising her family, she attended Indiana University, but became a realtor serving with Owens, Bryan and Reed Realty. Upon her husband's retirement from RCA, they worked together in opening Chez Chocolat, a specialized candy store, in the College Mall. She demonstrated a flare for decorating the store throughout the year, especially for holidays.
They both retired again, and fulfilled a life-long dream to return to Germany by serving as hosts of the Pastorius House, owned and operated as a German-American cultural exchange located in Bad Windsheim (Bavaria), Germany, where her children and grandson visited.
In Bloomington, and for a number of years the family lived in Nashville, IN, she enjoyed attending the IU Opera and serving as a Docent with the IU Art Museum. She served as co-president of the Bloomington Chapter of the National Society of Arts & Letters. She volunteered at the Psi Iota Xi Thrift Shop in past years. She loved to travel to enjoy a wide and wonderful world of other peoples and cultures. She had planned to be in Germany this month. She especially cherished opportunities to host family and friends by preparing elaborate meals in an elegant setting.
Our mother proved to be spirited fighter to live, and we are deeply grateful for the superb medical care provided by each of her doctors and the excellent staff of IU Health Bloomington Hospital and Hospice House.
A celebration of a life well-lived and enjoyed will take place at Trinity Episcopal Church, 111 S. Grant Street, Bloomington at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 31, 2016. Visitation will be at 9:00 a.m. until the service time in the Great Room of the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the IU Art Museum or WTIU public television in Ingelore's name or the charity of your choice.
