Cindy Welch: A Familiar Face At JoDean\'s Steak House
Cindy Welch: A Familiar Face At JoDean’s Steak House
vBy Aimee Huntley
JoDean’s Steakhouse
has been known by
many from its radio
jingle as “A South
Dakota Tradition”. The
Neilson’s restaurant
was always a family run
business from day one
with John, Thelma, and
their son, Jack Nielsen
in 1971. The restaurant
originally opened in
Vermillion, SD. and then
moved to Centerville
in 1973. Eventually,
JoDean’s has come to
its present Yankton location at 2809 Broadway Avenue in 2002. The
JoDean’s brand name was a compilation of the married owner’s names.
The first two letters of John’s first name and Thelma Dean’s middle
name. The couple’s son; Jack Nielsen, has been the acting owner since
their passing.
In addition to Jack, Cindy Welch has been a constant presence at
the restaurant for the past thirty-nine years. After meeting Cindy, one
would never believe the time though. She is vibrant and energetic as
ever. She started at the Centerville location while still in high school
as a cook, because “Back in those days I was too young, and you
had to be twenty-one years old to be a server.” Over the years Cindy
learned many aspects of the business, and took on more and more
responsibility. Eventually she became assistant manager, and more
recently the lead supervisor for the past six years.
Not only has Cindy made a career out of her employment at
JoDean’s, she actually met the love of her life there too. Cindy has been
married thirty-six years to her husband, Jim. She met him at the old
Yankton site in the 80’s, when he worked for JoDean’s as a cook. The
two became friends
and eventually
started dating.
The Welch’s have
three adult sons;
Andy, Alex, and
Adam. Andy and
Alex followed their
mother’s footsteps
and started working
for Jack when they
were in high school,
they are wellliked, established
members of the
JoDean’s crew. Jim
still loves to cook,
and Cindy says that,
“My husband does most of the cooking at home.” He and their sons
enjoy growing vegetables in
the family garden. Cindy
is sometimes very busy
canning them depending on
the harvest.
Cindy credits her strong work
ethic to her parents, Eugene
and Jeanette Wieseler from St.
Helena, SD. She hails from a
large family, with five older
brothers and six younger
sisters, and is blessed to
still have them all alive and
well. Her parents owned
and worked side by side, at the
Mission Hill meat locker until 1985. They often
Cindy an
d Jim 19
85
had their children with them at the business. A
Proudly Serving You Since 1948!
“Your Single Source”
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