Retired coach and former state senator Chuck Welke, Sr., has died.
From Warner, Welke was raised on a farm in Spink County. He graduated from Redfield High School and Northern State University. He was a teacher, coach and administrator for more than 35 years and continued to serve as a substitute teacher following his retirement. His basketball teams at Warner saw considerable success.
He died Tuesday evening after suffering a heart attack earlier in the week, according to a Facebook announcement from his wife. He was 67.
Welke s coaching career began in Harrold and continued in Warner where he started as head coach for football and boys track and coached seventh- and eighth-grade basketball. During his 33-year career at Warner, he also coached girls track and girls basketball. He was the head head boys basketball coach for 28 years.