Father Joseph John Welschmeyer, of St. Louis, formerly of Freeburg, was born on September 26, 1954, at Vienna, in Maries County, a son of Frank Aloysius and Elizabeth Marie (Bexten) Welschmeyer, and departed this life at 2:54 a.m., Wednesday, June 25, 2014, in the Mother of Good Counsel Home, St. Louis. Fr. Joe had attained the age of 59 years, 8 months, and 29 days.

Father Welschmeyer attended Fatima High School in Westphalia and received a bachelor's degree in education from Lincoln University in Jefferson City. He received a master's degree in theology from St. Mary's University in San Antonio, Texas, and a master of divinity degree from Kenrick-Glennon Seminary, St. Louis. For 15 years, Fr. Joe taught at the high school level and performed youth work and community journalism. Father William Thess, pastor of St. Agnes Parish in Bloomsdale, St. Lawrence Parish in Lawrenceton, and a seminary classmate, said Father Welschmeyer was a teacher at heart. "He was always big in regard to education, and certainly with faith as a part of it but also to give kids an understanding of the world. … He always tried to tie people's culture into faith," Father Thess said.

Father Welschmeyer was ordained into the priesthood by Cardinal Justin Rigali, on May 27, 2000, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis. Asked then about his vocation, he said: "What influenced my decision to become a priest was my experiences in life, which I discerned to be Spirit-led. I could not turn my back on such experiences and act as though I did not recognize God's presence in them." In the archdiocese, Father Welschmeyer was named the Associate Pastor of the St. Paul Parish in Fenton on June 12, 2000, and at Holy Infant Parish in Ballwin on December 2, 2002. Fr. Joe was appointed pastor of the St. James Parish in Potosi on June 17, 2008, and he served as a chaplain at the Potosi Correctional Center as well. Fr. Joe was able to serve in the priesthood until April 17, 2013, when his failing health forced him to take a medical leave. He continued to live in the St. Louis area at the Regina Cleri Residence for Retired Priests until having to move to the Mother of Good Counsel Home for his care.

Fr. Joe was preceded in death by his father on January 20, 2002; his mother on March 8, 2005; one brother, Stephen Welschmeyer on December 13, 2005; and three sisters, Esther Klebba on September 3, 1986; Mary Wiegers on December 30, 2005; and Louise Groner on December 18, 2009.

Fr. Joe is survived by four brothers, Richard Welschmeyer and wife, Lucille; Leroy Welschmeyer; Bernard Welschmeyer and wife, Ruth, all of Freeburg; and Jerome Welschmeyer, Dixon; three sisters, Janice Plemmons and husband, Dan, Freeburg; Sara Henderson and husband, Wayne, Vienna; and Joyce Robinson and husband, Ben, St. Charles; three brothers-in-law, Fred Wiegers, Freeburg; Eugene Klebba, Taos; and Clem Groner, Westphalia; nephews, nieces; and a host of other relatives and friends.

A Prayer Service was held for Fr. Joe at 4:00 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2014, in the Holy Infant Catholic Church, Ballwin, with the Rev. Steve Giljum leading, and a second Prayer Service was held at 4:00 p.m., Sunday, June 29, 2014, in the Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg, with the Rev. Nicholas J. Reid leading.

The first Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Fr. Joe at 11:00 a.m., Saturday morning, June 28, 2014, in the Holy Infant Catholic Church, 627 Dennison Drive, Ballwin, with the Most Reverend Robert Carlson, Archbishop of St. Louis, and the Rev. Edward Stanger, Holy Infant Catholic Church, Ballwin, concelebrating and the Rev. Msgr. Tom Dempsey as the Homilist.

The second Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated for Fr. Joe at 11:00 a.m., on Monday morning, June 30, 2014, in the Holy Family Catholic Church, 104 Olive Street at Highway 63, Freeburg, with Bishop John R. Gaydos, The Diocese of Jefferson City, and the Rev. Nicholas J. Reid, Holy Family Catholic Church, Freeburg, concelebrating.

Interment was in the Holy Family Cemetery, Freeburg, under the direction of the Vienna Chapel of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.

Father Welschmeyer requested memorial contributions to the Holy Family School, Freeburg, instead of flowers with envelopes available at the Holy Family Church or the Vienna Office of the Birmingham-Martin Funeral Homes.