Vicki Welhusen

There are some women who just naturally exude the nurturing character qualities of an extraordinary mother. Vicki Welhusen was such a woman as caring for her children brought her much fulfillment and great joy. She shared an enduring love with her soul mate and together, they built a marriage that exemplified the true meaning of what a marriage is truly intended to be. Vicki possessed a vibrant faith that sustained her throughout both the peaks and the valleys along her life’s journey.

As WWII unfolded overseas, life back home continued to feel the effects of the war as well. It was in the year 1942 that there were scrap drives for steel, rubber, and tin, and automobile production ceased as a means of supporting the war effort. This was a year of renewed hope and joy in the family of Oliver and Nellie (Leonard) Engler as they welcomed the birth of their daughter, Vicki, on February 5th. Vicki was born in Lansing, Michigan, as the older of two children in her family. Her father owned a welding shop in Lansing while her mother stayed home to care for the children and household needs. Vicki was a quiet child who enjoyed reading from an early age. As a result, she excelled in English throughout her formal education. Although Vicki was usually reserved, she was known to have a bit of a temper on occasion. She grew up in a large extended family who got together often at various family farms. Vicki especially enjoyed visiting her cousin Jeanette at Aunt Kitty and Uncle Merle’s farm in Mason where they would ride on tractors and get into their fair share of mischief from time to time. Times were good for her family while she was growing up, and her family had the first color television on the block.

For her schooling, Vicki attended local schools including Lansing Sexton High School where she met the man with whom she would share much of her life. His name was Richard “Dick” Welhusen, and he and some friends just showed up in a car and asked Vicki if she would like a ride. Vicki accepted and with that, Vicki and Dick were nearly inseparable throughout the following 40 years. As a young couple they enjoyed going to sock hops and football games where Dick was an outstanding defensive linesman. They also liked going to the movies and to the lake. Vicki was quite social and had many friends, and she and Dick established many close mutual friends as they grew up together in many ways. Vicki and Dick became engaged to be married during the summer before her senior year in high school. They became husband and wife in 1960, just two weeks after her graduation.

After enjoying a honeymoon in Niagara Falls, the couple was anxious to begin their new lives together as husband and wife. Vicki stayed home while Dick attended classes at Michigan State University. Just 11 months after they exchanged their vows, Vicki and Dick were blessed with the birth of their first child, Debbie. Over the next 14 years, Kelly, Kevin, Denise, and Bryon were born. It was easy to see that Vicki’s children were the focus of her life as she fully immersed herself into caring for their needs. Education was always of the utmost importance to both Vicki and Dick, and it was imperative to Vicki that her children go on to college after high school. When her children eventually all grew up and moved out of the house, Vicki went through a period of sadness. So much of what had occupied her life up until that time was suddenly stripped away, leaving Vicki to find her way – a new way of life. One thing that certainly brought her joy back was when she was blessed with grandchildren. Nothing could have made her happier than having young ones to dote over once again.

Tough times were in store for Vicki a bit later in life. She was deeply saddened with the death of her beloved Dick in 1998 after he suffered with a short bout with cancer. Vicki worked a lot during the days that followed his death in an attempt to fill the void that Dick’s absence left behind. She also could lean on her faith and was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Dearborn. Vicki was additionally faced with challenges of her own during this time as she was diagnosed with breast cancer just one month after Dick’s death. Vicki courageously fought against the disease and was declared cancer free in 2006. Then in August of 2009, she suffered a stroke.

It was easy for those who knew Vicki Welhusen to see the deep love she had for her husband and family. She had a vibrant spirit and a zest for life that was hard to miss as well. Vicki was a woman of great strength and could even be strong-willed when it came to things she felt passionate about. A true care-giver at heart, her tender touch will be dearly missed by those she leaves behind. She will be warmly remembered and forever cherished in the hearts and lives of those who held her dear.

Vicki S. Welhusen of Dearborn died January 12, 2010. Vicki’s family includes her children; Deborah (Mike) McTavish of Cordova, TN, Kelly (Jim) Nicol of Troy, Kevin Welhusen of Novi, Denise (Bryan) Welhusen-Huttenlocker of Spring Arbor, and Bryon (Lisa Kincade) Welhusen of Royal Oak; grandchildren, R.J., Amanda, Kyle, and Shayne Lynch, Peyton and Trevor Huttenlocker; great-grandson, Sebastian Lynch. Vicki was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, and beloved grandpuppy, Hank. Funeral Services will be held 2 p.m. Friday, January 15, 2010 at Osgood Funeral Home in St. Johns. Burial will follow at Mt. Rest Cemetery in St. Johns. The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. Friday before the service. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com where you can leave a favorite memory or photo, sign the online guestbook, or make a memorial donation to the Karmanos Cancer Institute, 4100 John R. Street, Detroit, MI 48201.