GERING, Neb. — James Edwin (Eddie) Welch, 66, a resident of 845 M. St., Gering, Neb., died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 2, 2009, at UPMC Hospital in Pittsburgh. Formerly a Venango resident, he had lived in Nebraska since 1996 and was visiting family here in Venango.

Born in Meadville on June 10, 1943, he was a son of the late Edwin A. Welch and E. Virginia Boyer Welch. On Nov. 22, 1973, he married the former Linda Loree Mathews and she survives.

Eddie attended Cambridge Springs High School and shortly thereafter served his country in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War. Returning from the military, Eddie worked a short time for the Pennsylvania Game Commission at the pheasant farm located east of Cambridge Springs. He then began a lasting career in road construction as a heavy equipment operator. Places of employment included SPA Construction in Cambridge Springs for nine years and for Waterford Township and for LeBoeuf Township, both in Erie County.

He belonged to Venango Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 169 as an honorary member and to the American Legion in Gering. His interests included vegetable and flower gardening, woodworking and hunting. His family was important to him and he enjoyed spending time with his grandchildren.

Surviving Eddie, in addition to his wife of 35 years, are three daughters, Crystal Brown and her fiancé, Tim Soltesz, of Venango, Sylvia Severson and her husband, Grant, of Gering, and Amanda Ziegler and her husband, Chris, of Mitchell, Neb.; four grandchildren, Jamie Brown, Emily Severson, Hunter Ziegler and Addison Ziegler; a brother, Bernard Welch of Cambridge Springs; and a sister, Myra Granat and her husband, Joe, of Cambridge Springs. Also surviving are many nieces and nephews.

Friends are invited to attend a memorial service at Van Matre Family Funeral Home, 335 Venango Ave., Cambridge Springs, on Sunday at 3 p.m. The Rev. Duane Pinney, pastor of Washington Christian Valley Church, will officiate.

Memorial gifts may be made directly to the family.