Doug Welker

Doug was born on March 22, 1946, in Batavia, New York, to Ruth and Harry Welker, later graduating from LeRoy High School, receiving a B.S. from SUNY Albany and serving in the U.S. Navy.

He and his wife, Marjory Johnston, moved to Alston, Michigan, in 1986.They met at Case Western Reserve University when Doug was completing his Ph.D. in geology and Marjory was the librarian in the Geology Library. They lived in Greene County, Pennsylvania, when Doug took a job as a geologist with the West Virginia Geological Survey.

After much discussion of an ideal place to live, they chose the U.P. They built their house and cultivated an outdoor life with hiking, camping, skiing, snowshoeing, canoeing and gardening. In addition to enjoying their outdoor life, with a menagerie of dogs and cats over the years, they became active stewards of their community, particularly the local trails and wild areas.

Doug served as a wilderness ranger, served on boards of the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition and the Friends of the Land of Keweenaw, started the local Peter Wolfe Chapter of the North Country Trail Association and was currently active in a campaign to get four new Wildernesses designated in the Ottawa National Forest. He and Marjory worked together on annual trail maintenance on the North Country Trail. Doug loved to share his love of the outdoors with others, to simply appreciate the woods, the trees, the birds, and other inhabitants. He also worked for a number of years for Houghton/Portage Township Schools with a physically disabled student.

Doug is survived by his wife, Marjory, his special dog, Happy, his sister, Pat Ikler, niece Rebecca Ikler, and several cousins, Marjory’s nieces and nephews, and all those who were knowingly or unknowingly touched by or benefitted from Doug’s love of nature and the wilderness.

Plans for an informal memorial gathering are incomplete. Gifts may be made in his memory to the Upper Peninsula Environmental Coalition, the Lake Superior Stewardship Initiative, the Copper Country Humane Society or a charity of one’s choice.

The O’Neill-Dennis Funeral Home in Hancock is assisting with the arrangements. To leave online condolences, please go to oneilldennisfh.com.