JOHN MICHAEL WELCH July 6, 1968 – April 27, 2026
John Michael Welch, beloved husband, father, brother, uncle, cousin, Marine Corps veteran, and friend, passed away on April 27, 2026, at the age of 57.
John was born on July 6, 1968, in Los Alamos, New Mexico, into an active family of 4 boys and 1 girl. Games and competitions with his siblings and with other neighborhood kids kept him busy, but John also swam competitively with the Aquatomics, played tennis, skied in the winter, ran with the cross-country team when he got to high school, and made lots of lifelong friends along the way.
John also joined NJROTC while in high school, and it was there that he decided to become a Marine. He enlisted right out of high school, and then proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corps from 1986 to 1990, with time stationed at Camp Pendleton and then at Marine Corps Air Base Hawaii in Kaneohe Bay. John was responsible for the avionics, communications/navigation, and radar systems on the F-4 and F-18 aircraft at the base. He also put his swimming chops to use and qualified as a Water Safety Survival Instructor, where he taught Marines how to swim effectively in combat situations. John’s service as a Marine remained a foundational and honored part of his life.
After his military service John enrolled in the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, sharing a house with his brother, Frank, who was already a UNM student at the time. John enjoyed life in Albuquerque, and was doing well in his studies, but things got much better when he met another student, the lovely Micaela Marquez! John and Micaela eventually got married and had two wonderful sons, Christopher (1993), and Patrick (1998), who they were both very, very proud of.
John graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University of New Mexico in 1995 with a BBA in Management Information Systems.
After graduating from UNM John worked at Intel for many years, starting as a finance and business analyst then as an IT construction and operations manager. He then worked as a project manager for Presbyterian, CACI, and TEK Systems. Most recently John worked for Great Western Specialty Systems as a Business Development Representative. He was hardworking, dependable, and took pride in the work he did.
John was very involved in youth sports, especially baseball and club soccer. He was the president of the Lobo Little League and served on the board of the Rio Soccer Club (NM Rapids). He was a devoted Denver Broncos and Manchester United fan. He enjoyed being part of the lives of those around him, especially his family.
John is survived by his sons, Christopher Welch and Patrick Welch; his former spouse, Micaela Welch; his sister, Kathleen Wright and her husband, Orbry; his brother William Welch and his wife, Chi; his brother Frank Welch and his husband, Michael Greene; and his brother Timothy Welch and his wife, Bridget. He is also survived by many nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nieces and nephews, aunts, uncles, extended family members, friends and beloved dogs.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank Perry Welch and Mary Virginia Welch; his brother, Mark Steven Welch; his former mother-in-law, Mary Marquez; and his former father-in-law, Art Marquez.
John will be remembered most for his kindness, humor, generosity, and ability to make people laugh. He was a practical joker with a great sense of humor, and even during difficult times he often kept a smile on his face. He touched many lives with his warmth and personality and will be deeply missed by all who knew him. John’s life was meaningful, his presence mattered, and his memory will live on through his sons and his family, and through many, many friends and loved ones.
There will be a celebration of life for John at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Daniel’s Funeral Home, Carlisle Chapel, 3113 Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque, NM 87110.
John will be inurned at the Santa Fe National Military Cemetery in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
To honor John’s memory, the family invites memorial donations to these causes that are meaningful to him: Assistance Dogs of the West, or Almost Home New Mexico Rescue.
