Our beloved Michelle Lee Welling passed away on Thursday, April 21st at the age of 68. Mickey was born in Rock Island, IL to Donald and Monica (Skelley) Mason on May 12, 1953, attended Rock Island High School, and spent most of her career as a dispatcher and later office manager of the Illinois State Police District 7 headquarters where she retired in 2002.  While working as a dispatcher for ISP a coworker introduced Mickey to her future husband John Welling.  John and Mickey were married on June 16, 1979 at St. Anne's Church, East Moline, IL - a year to the day of that first meeting.

Mickey loved reading almost as much as she loved politics and was a confirmed MSNBC junkie.  In her retirement, she relished the time she spent gardening with John in their beautiful yard, working out with her gym friends, baking holiday gifts for neighbors, and crocheting handmade originals for family and friends.  Mickey was a strong advocate of social justice and believed that every person should be afforded equal rights and treated with dignity and respect.  She imparted her sense of family, service, and social justice to her children.  Most of all Mickey enjoyed spoiling her three grandsons - there were no rules at Ama's house.

While Mickey will be remembered most by friends and family for her compassion, kindness, infectious laugh, and her deep concern for others, it's her courage and positive attitude in the face of a 25 year cancer battle that most people found inspiring.  Despite numerous surgeries, radiation, and countless rounds of chemotherapy, she maintained her positive outlook on life and was always deeply grateful for the time she was able to spend with her family and friends.  Mickey's family would like to thank the Unity Point Hospice Program for the loving care it provided in her final months.

Michelle Lee Welling was preceded in death by her mother and father.  She is survived by her husband John, daughter Shannon Welling, son and daughter-in-law Luke and Katie Welling, and three very special grandsons Mason, Griffin, and Nolan. She is also survived by her step father Donald Smith and brothers Michael and Rick Mason. Additional survivors include numerous family members and dear friends who will forever cherish her memory.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to UnityPoint Hospice or the University of Iowa Cancer Centers.

A memorial visitation will be held from 2PM until 4 PM Saturday, April 30, 2022 at Van Hoe Funeral Home Ltd., East Moline.  A service will be held at the conclusion of visitation.  Services will be live streamed by logging into http://www.facebook.com/vanhoefuneralhome

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