JEFFREY NEAL WELLING

November 16, 1941 ~ May 5, 2018

Jeff Welling, beloved husband of Snookie Welling, of Medicine Hat passed away on Saturday, May 5, 2018 at the age of 76 years after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Jeff also leaves to cherish his memory his children, Joelle (Dean) and Stephanie (Gerald); grandchildren, Jessica, Jonathan and Wesley; siblings, Len (Carol), Yvonne, and Steve (Annabel); nieces and nephews, Leslie, Denise, Gary, Randy, Sandy, Sean and Jennifer; and a large circle of extended family and friends. Jeff was predeceased by his parents, Les and Hilda; his father-in-law, Joe Boschee; his mother-in-law, Miriam Boschee; a sister, Sandy; a nephew, Murray; and a sister-in-law, Sharon. Born in Medicine Hat on November 16, 1941, Jeff graduated from Medicine Hat High School and went on to complete both a Bachelor and a Master of Science in Mechanical Engineering at the University of Alberta. Jeff and Snookie started dating in Grade 10 and were inseparable partners in life from that point on. They were married in December 1962, and although he worked for Canadian General Electric in Peterborough, ON. for a time, Medicine Hat was always home. With his Masters degree in hand, Jeff began his teaching career at the Medicine Hat College in 1969, teaching math, physics and first year engineering. Over the next ten years at MHC he got involved in administration as Chairman of the Division of Science, Phys. Ed and Nursing, Acting V.P. Academic for one year, and then Director of Trades Training and Program Development. In 1979, Jeff and Snookie purchased a retail fur store and Jeff began a new career as a furrier. He became a bit of a craftsman making fur coats from mostly beaver and coyote skins that farmers, ranchers and trappers had harvested. He always said that designing and building bridges, motors and generators wasn’t very different from making fur coats! In 1997 Jeff returned to full-time teaching at the college in their new CADD-Technical Illustration program. He retired from the college in 2007. Jeff always believed that you got back what you put into life and this was demonstrated through his involvement in many community organizations and boards, including the local branch of APEGGA, Kinsmen Club (executive positions at both local and national levels), University of Lethbridge Senate, Medicine Hat Chamber of Commerce (President 1985), Medicine Hat Economic Development Advisory Committee, SAIT Board of Governors (1981-1987) and Medicine Hat Exhibition and Stampede (1982-2017). He was particularly proud of his involvement with the Medicine Hat Community Foundation and was actively involved with the downtown development and business association, even, from time to time, running the projector at the Monarch Theatre without incident! When the occasion presented itself and he could commit the time, involvement in theatrical and musical productions was a particular enjoyment, as was his two terms on the board of the Alberta Foundation for the Arts. He loved his church not only for the beauty of the building, but also for the wonderful community that it provided. The thing that really inspired Jeff, though, was his family. Snookie was the love of his life and he was immensely proud of his children, Joelle and Stephanie, who he thought were the best professor and nurse in the world. Their most important accomplishments, though, were his grandchildren, Jessica, Jonathan and Wesley. Supportive of dance and music lessons, he was a cowboy at heart and hauling the horse to 4-H events with Stephanie was a real joy. The horse trailer was ugly and the bus even uglier, but it was “Jeff’s Jewel” and it always got them to where they needed to be! Jeff’s life will be celebrated at Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church, on Friday, May 11, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. with Reverend David Pollard officiating. If friends desire, memorial donations in Jeff’s name may be made to directly to the Community Foundation of Medicine Hat & S.E. Alberta, #104, 430 – 6 Avenue S.E., Medicine Hat, AB. T1A 2S8 or to the Fifth Avenue Memorial United Church Roof Fund, 476 – 4 Street S.E., Medicine Hat, AB. T1A 0K9. Honoured to serve the family is

Cook Southland Funeral Chapel, 901 – 13th Street S.W. Medicine Hat, Alberta T1A 4V4 Phone 403-527-6455