James Allen Welsh

James Allen Welsh, 70, passed away on April 12, 2025. He was born October 12, 1954, the second child of Russ and Betty Welsh in the small town of Loves Park, Illinois. Jim is survived by his loving wife Linda, his sons Erik [Kerri] and Evan [Amber] Welsh, grandchildren Dylan, Susan, Kieran, Owen, and Lucy; his sisters Desa [Doug] Ciufo and Diane Welsh. Jim was preceded in death by his parents Betty and Russ. His early life was marked with adventures and challenges. Becoming a Type 1 diabetic at the age of 10, Jim was able to successfully navigate that auto-immune disease and bear witness to the technological advances that have occurred in diabetes research and treatment. In the early '70s as president of his Harlem High School class, he brought about significant changes to the dress code, so girls could wear pants and boys didn't have to wear belts. He served as a photographer for the high school yearbook. After high school, he outfitted his first van for a two-month long trip to Alaska with his best friend, Tony Gelander. On June 1, 1974, Jim married his high school sweetheart Linda Susan Anderson in the Garden of the Fu Dogs at Allerton Park, Monticello, Illinois. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. To fulfill a youthful dream, he converted his second van for a nine-month adventure, driving as far as Bolivia, South America with his wife, Linda. After the trip to South America, Jim and Linda settled down in Austin, Texas to raise their family. Jim had an eclectic variety of jobs from construction to band manager for Timbuk 3. As a self-taught engineer, Jim enjoyed his work as an engineering associate for the Engineering Services Department of the City of Austin where he worked for 20 years. He was especially proud of his work on the redesign of Barton Springs Road and his significant contributions to the work on US 183. He loved teaching new engineers how to do their work for the city. Jim was a tinkerer and inventor, loving to make detailed plans and then create them. His love of model rocketry was shared with his family and friends. His major project after retirement was rebuilding the bridge and decks on our home and took pride in doing everything himself. A service will be held at Eloise Woods Natural Burial Park at 1pm on Friday April 18th, 2025. All are welcome. Please dress comfortably with good shoes for the rustic location. No bathroom is available. Please send flowers to Austin Natural Funerals.

James Allen Welsh

October 12, 1954 - April 12, 2025