Yvonne Bernice Welk 1935 - 2009 Yvonne Bernice Welk was born on January 30, 1935 in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada. She was the fifth of seven children. She is survived by three older sisters and a younger sister and brother. Yvonne married Jim Welk on April 27, 1956. In 1960, First Interstate Bank of California advertised in Canada for Canadian Bankers. Jim applied and was hired. On January 1, 1961, the family arrived in San Francisco. They became U.S. citizens in 1971. Yvonne enjoyed being a homemaker. She was employed for a time as a medical transcriber for Central Cardiology in Bakersfield and St. Angus Hospital in Fresno. Jim and Yvonne have always been active members of church. Over the years Yvonne has taught Sunday School, served as Financial Secretary, and Director of Children's Ministries. She has served as President of Christian Women's Club. Yvonne was known for her hospitality. Their home was often the location of Sunday School and Super Bowl parties. In 2001 Jim and Yvonne moved to Bakersfield from Merced and joined Daybreak Baptist Church. They joined the Senior Choir and enjoyed being a part of the musical productions. Jim and Yvonne loved their travels together. They have been to all 50 states, and taken ten cruises. They are fans of hockey - Go Condors. They were often in attendance at dinner theater productions and community plays. In 2006 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with family and friends with a luncheon buffet at Hodels. Yvonne passed away on December 8, 2009 at home. After nine years of illness she succumbed to Progressive Supranuclear Palsy. Yvonne is survived by her loving husband of 53 years Jim; four children and their spouses, Donna and Marvin Goering, David and Fran Welk, Randy and Alison Welk and Debbie and Adam Hansen; four grandchildren, Rachel Goering, Christy Welk, and Hayden and Haylie Hansen. Graveside Service at Greenlawn Southwest on Saturday, December 19, 10:00 a.m. A celebration of Yvonne's life will follow at 11:00 a.m. at Daybreak Baptist Church, 5446 Taft Highway. Donations in Yvonne's memory can be made to CURE PSP, 11350 McCormick Road Executive Plaza 111, Suite 906, Hunt Valley, MD 21031 www.psp.org

Published in Bakersfield Californian on December 16, 2009