Patricia “Pat” Wozniak Welch joined her husband, Edward James Welch, in Heaven on November 18, 2025. She was full of faith, humor, love, and devotion to the Catholic Church. Pat went to South High in Omaha, Nebraska, and attended the University of Nebraska Omaha. Pat was an excellent student and avid reader who loved all the great works of literature and had a keen interest in mysteries and thrillers. After a brief career in advertising, she married her lifelong, loving, and devoted husband, Ed. Their unbreakable bond was rooted in their Catholic faith and their deep and unwavering love of their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. Pat was a selfless mother who gave indefatigably to her kids and donated faithfully at Sunday Masses at all the Parishes she attended in Omaha and Spirit Lake, Iowa, where she and Ed purchased a summer home along the shores of West Lake Okoboji to enrich the lives of their young family.
With a keen sense of humor, Pat was able to articulate her profound vocabulary through storytelling and letters. Pat was a crossword puzzle aficionado who completed four daily. She prayed the Rosary every night and was deeply devoted to St. Anthony, who guided her in finding the simple things around her houses, which she filled with affection, silly jokes, entertaining stories, and all the comfort and security a mother could give her family. One of her favorite sayings was “A mother is not someone to lean on but to make leaning unnecessary.” She loved her family dearly and gave everything she had to her devoted children.
Pat was preceded in death by Ed and her parents, John P. and Elizabeth Wozniak. She is survived by daughters Molly (Larry) Harris of Miami, Florida; Katherine Welch of Minneapolis, Minnesota; Eileen Lamer of Spencer, Iowa; Patty (Mike) Buzard of Urbandale, Iowa; and Joan Welch of Miami, Florida; son Edward “Jamie” Welch (Francisca) of Gulf Breeze, Florida; grandchildren, Jordan Welch (Dallas), Leslie Dahl-Mongan (Glenn), Rachel Harris, Naomi Alvino (Fabio), and Nathan Harris (Dave), Jacqueline Harvey (Shaun), Dorothy and Michael Buzard (Elise); great-grandchildren Scottlyn, Greyson and Margaret Harvey; Lake, Peyton, Autumn, and Ember Mongan; Theodore and Arthur Alvino; sister Betty Cleveland of Sierra Madre, California; and numerous nephews, nieces and cousins.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. Friday, March 20, 2026, at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Missouri Valley, Iowa. Burial at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Missouri Valley will follow at 2:00 p.m.
