WELGE, Vena (Patty) C.

The Payson Roundup, Payson, Arizona, Friday, February 06, 2015 Vena “Patty” C. Welge September 5, 1929 - unknown Vena C. Welge, formerly of Decatur, Ill., passed away peacefully with family at her side at Good Samaritan Hospital in Phoenix. The funeral is scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, Feb. 10 at St. Philip the Apostle Catholic Church, Payson. Vena, better known as “Patty,” was born Sept. 5, 1929 in Champaign, Ill., the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Cecil Phillips. She married Edwin Welge of Decatur, Ill. in 1948 at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Decatur, Ill. She is survived by her husband, Ed of Pine, Ariz.; son, Peter Welge of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; daughter, Kristine Keith of Bakersfield, Calif.; granddaughter, Jennifer Welge; and great-grandson, Maddox of Burien, Wash.; and her younger sister, Nancy Garrett of Casa Grande, Ariz. The newlyweds were some of the first travelers on the Alaskan Highway. They had an exciting trip on the dangerous, narrow dirt and gravel road to experience the outback of North America. While on their trip, they stopped in Atlin, Canada to visit her great uncle to help work his gold mine. They made this trip a few more times to continue to experience the wild country. Another memorable venture for Patty and her family took place in 1984. It was then the family traveled to Germany to visit with ancestral relatives. The family moved back and forth between Southern California and the San Joaquin Valley for Ed’s job in the oil patch. During these transfers, Patty loved to teach catechism at the local Catholic Church. Ed retired from his job as a supervisory oil and gas engineer at the State of California and they moved to Pine, Ariz. in 1990. Patty loved to hike trails with her dog, Rolfe, in Pine. Another favorite of Patty’s was the local book club at the Payson Public Library. Through the years, she was known for playing tennis, painting, needlepoint and making others smile. But her favorite pastime was her children, grandchildren and great-grandson, Maddox. She was always known as a compassionate, listening individual who was a rare person that actually lived unconditional love for others. She will be deeply missed by her family and so many others. God Bless you, “Patty.”