William "Bill" Welle

William “Bill” Welle, 80, of Leawood, Kansas, passed away on Friday, November 3, 2023.

A visitation service will begin at 12:30 PM on Friday, November 10 at Faith Lutheran in Spencer followed by a funeral service at 1:30 PM with Pastor Ben Unseth officiating. The graveside service will be at Northlawn Memorial Cemetery in Spencer on Friday afternoon.

Bill was born on February 14, 1943, the son of Lester and Pearl (Arms) Welle. The 6th of eleven children, he grew up in rural Milford, Iowa graduating from Milford High School in 1961.

On June 27, 1969, he married Bonnie Morman at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Spencer. The couple made their home in Spencer until relocating to Apache Junction, Arizona in 2018. Bill relocated to Leawood, Kansas in May of 2023.

Bill cooked in Spencer-area restaurants in the 1960s and 1970s, including Stub’s Ranch Kitchen and Thurston’s Place. He and Bonnie owned and operated Zesto in Spencer from 1976 to 1986, serving breakfast, lunch, dinner, and ice cream treats. Bill then drove for Rides Regional Transit Authority, transporting people throughout northwest Iowa.

Survivors include his children, Brad (Karen Delperdang) Welle of Grain Valley, Missouri, and Barry Welle of Grimes, Iowa; four grandchildren, Brooke Welle of San Diego, California, Logan Welle of Portland, Oregon, Shaylynn Welle and Levi Welle of Grimes, Iowa; his siblings DeAnne (Norm) Van Enter of Fostoria, Iowa, Dean Welle of Seville, Florida, his twin sister Bonnie Gilbertson of Apache Junction, Arizona, David Welle of Milford, Iowa, and Bob Welle of Milford, Iowa.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents; his wife; his siblings Bud Welle, Jeannine Winter, Jerry Welle, John Welle, and Mike Welle; and in-laws Clarence and Mildred Morman.