Nichole M. Welch Obituary (1972 - 2019)

Nichole M. Welch, 47, of Clinton, IL passed away at 5:45 PM, May 18, 2019 at her family residence, Clinton, IL. Mass of Christian Burial will be 11 AM, Saturday, May 25, 2019 at St. John's Catholic Church, Clinton, IL with Rev. Fr. James Henning celebrant. Visitation will be 9 - 11 AM, Saturday at the church. Calvert Funeral Home, Clinton, IL is in charge of arrangements. Memorials may be directed to the Clayton Welch Educational Fund. Nikki was born March 22, 1972 in Bloomington, IL the only child of Alice K. Rettke. Nikki graduated from Lexington High School in 1990, where she had been active in softball and cheerleading. After attending college, she worked as an Assistant Manager at Schnuck's in Bloomington. She married Gary Welch on September 19, 1998 in Clinton, IL and shortly thereafter began her career with State Farm Insurance Co. in Bloomington. Nikki and Gary became parents to their son, Clayton in 2001 and thus began Nikki's lifelong mission to raise an athlete, at which she succeeded. Nikki was an enthusiastic supporter of her son, no matter what sport or season and she struggled to teach her husband the rudiments of her son's sports. Nikki was an active member of St. John's Catholic Church in Clinton, having taught Sunday School and serving her Church on the Parish Council. Nikki began her battle with cancer in September of 2016, just as she and Gary were leaving for a long-planned trip to Europe and characteristically, she refused to let cancer spoil their trip. During her fight, she fulfilled a lifelong dream by buying and learning to ride a Harley Davidson Motorcycle. She made some new friends while riding and continued to enjoy her life while battling cancer. Nikki is survived by her husband, Gary, son Clayton and her dog, "Ollie", her mother-in-law, Karen L. (Roy) Welch; grandmother-in-law, Nellie M. Koons all of Clinton, IL; and brother-in-law, Chris Welch, Decatur, IL; uncle, Robert (Rhea) Rettke, Fort Worth, TX; two aunts, Margaret (Tom) Wilson, Franklin Grove, IL and Linda McDonald, Bloomington, IL; three cousins, Jason Wilson and Jamie (Angela) Wilson, both of Harmon, IL and Chris McDonald, South Bend, IN. She was preceded in death by her mother, Alice K. Rettke; grandparents, Delmar and Clara J. Rettke; and cousin, Elliot Rettke. Please honor Nikki's life by hanging out with friends and having a laugh.