Bonnie Sue Welch

Bonnie Sue Welch, 78, passed away on April 23, 2024, surrounded by her family at a local nursing home after a brave battle with two types of cancer. 

Funeral service will be held on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at 10:00 am at Buchanan Avenue Baptist Church (1567 Buchanan Ave.) with Pastor Johnathan Illsley officiating. A visitation will be one hour prior. Her final resting place will be Memorial Park Cemetery. Road Construction Alert Buchanan Avenue cannot be accessed from Gordan Drive/HWY 20
Buchanan Avenue can be accessed using Stone Avenue to 155th st or Correctionville Rd. On Buchanan Avenue drive past teh "Local Traffic Only" sign and you will find the church on the right side.

Bonnie was born on July 19, 1945, to Donald and Enid (Heaton) Bagley in Sioux City, Iowa. She was a member of the Central High School Class of 1963 in Sioux City. That same year, on September 26, Bonnie married Ken Welch, Sr. They had three children: Kristin, Ken, and Rebecca. They were together for 24 years. During their marriage, the couple lived in California and Washington state while Ken served in the Navy before moving back to Sioux City. 

Bonnie worked at Countryside Nursing Home for 35 years, first as CNA and then restorative therapist for the last 14 years before her retirement. She was a faithful member of the Buchanan Avenue Baptist Church. She was a helper there in the cleaning crew. Previously she had been a member of Billy Sunday Memorial Tabernacle, where she had taught Sunday School, and was president of Ladies Missionary. Bonnie made no secret of her faith and the strength she knew came from her savior. Her heart was always in prayer that everyone would know her savior too. In her spare time, Bonnie enjoyed anything involving her family, including sewing clothes. Her favorite things to make were pajamas for her grandchildren, burp rags, and new dresses for her granddaughters’ birthdays. She loved to host themed parties for her grandchildren to celebrate all the holidays. Even as the grandchildren grew older, they all wanted to attend Grandma B’s parties.

She was such a dedicated and loving mom, sister, Aunt B, and especially loved her Grandma B role!

Survivors include her children, Kristin (Don) Van Zanten of Sergeant Bluff; Ken (Karen) Welch of Sioux City, and Rebecca (Scott) Schmidt of Sheldon; her 10 grandchildren, Michael (Ananya) Van Zanten, Justin (Heather) Welch, Bryce (Taylor) Welch, Mackenzie (Michael) Kamm, Riley (Juan) Muñoz, Lindsey (Josiah) Lynam, Karlee Duncan, Abby (Lane) Te Slaa, Ashley Schmidt, and Alyssa Schmidt; 5 great-grandchildren with 2 more on the way; her sister Marcia (Bill) Cannon, 2 nieces, Tamara (Joe) Jenkins and Amy Wauer; and 3 nephews, Brett Wieser, Tim Welch, and Tom Miller.

She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Carolyn Belongea; and nephew, Sean Kaufer.