Gregory Lee Welsh

Gregory L. "Bucky" Welsh, 61, died peacefully in his home in Lecanto FL, on Saturday, September 17, 2016, with family at his side, after a 6 month fast and furious battle with brain cancer. Greg was born on November 28, 1954 in his home in Proctor, MN, to Joe and Maxine (Vork) Welsh. He attended East High School in Duluth. Bucky enlisted in the Marine Corps at the age of 17 in 1972, at a time when most young men of the VietNam Era were being drafted. He served the bulk of his service on guard duty at the ammo depot in the Phillipine Islands, ending his service in 1975. Bucky worked for the MN State weigh scales in Saginaw, MN and was employed for 13 years by the DM&IR. Bucky attended the Duluth Vo-Tech in 81 and 82 as a horticulturist. He had a love for growing all things green and blooming, and enjoyed his efforts immensely, as did most who knew him best. Bucky loved riding his Harley, agate hunting, road trips, and working. He was self employed for many years as a self taught general contractor, and was able to master all aspects of home building, building 9 homes with his wife that are occupied by families today. He remodeled many homes, and built many garages as well. He was able to have a vision of the project from conception, and was dedicated enough to always finish the job. He started an adult foster care business in Hermantown, MN, in December of 02', with a focus on caring for the elderly in the community. Those clients have remained in the home for many years, and they and their families have become our family, too. He married Eva (Young) Welsh in 1983 and his great love for people allowed him to encompass her very large family as well. He was a man who had immense love for his family and for those who were closest to him for most of his life. Bucky was preceded in death by his parents and his sister, Mary Sturgis. He is survived by his wife, Eva (Young) Welsh; his daughter, Aislyn (Jon Altonen) Welsh of Hermantown; his namesake and son, Gregory L. (Melody Pitton) Welsh Jr. of Midway, Georgia; and his goddaughter, Elizabeth "Peanut" Pitton of Cloquet. He is also survived by his beautiful grandchildren who loved him as deeply as he loved them. He was an amazing grandfather, and will be sorely missed by Michael Capra, Gregory S. Welsh, Olivia Olson, Layla Welsh, and Hope Simiyu. Bucky is survived by his siblings, Victor (Cindy) Welsh of Port Charlotte, FL, Judy (Sam) Greensky of Cloquet, Rhonda Stansfield of Cloquet, and Peter Welsh of Blackduck. Bucky also had a very large extended family of siblings from his parents' first marriages, Walt (Kiki) Welsh of Alborn, Janet Smith of Mesa, AZ, Joe (Marie) Welsh of Phoenix, AZ, Kris Reynolds of Wasilla, AK, Robert Vork of Esko, and Ronald (Sue) Vork of Scanlon, and many nieces and nephews. Bucky's spirit is now free and he wanted all of his beloved and close ones not to remember him with sadness, but to always remember the laughter, the fun times, and the love he so freely shared with so many, and for everyone to use that love they had for him and freely shower it on their loved ones. Visitation: 11 until the 1:00 p.m. funeral service Saturday, September 24th, 2016 in the Atkins Northland Funeral Home, 801 14th St, Cloquet. Burial will be in Hillside Cemetery in Carlton. Military Honors will be accorded by the Carlton VFW Honor Guard. To sign the guest book and offer an online tribute, see www.atkinsnorthlandfuneralhome.com