Alec Waelchli

Obituary for a Quiet Legend: Alec Devin Waelchli

The world just got a little dumber, quieter, and significantly less sarcastic. Alec Waelchli, aged 37, left this chaotic, overheating, Trump-infested Earth on 8/3/2025, presumably because he finally got fed up with it. And who could blame him?

A man of few words but many thoughts (most of them incredibly smart and at least mildly judgmental), Alec was the human embodiment of “don’t mistake my silence for lack of opinion.” And, oh boy, did he have opinions. He was fiercely pro LGBTQIAS+, unapologetically anti-Trump, pro-human, and believed in science, empathy, and not being a complete jack***—values he lived by, even when surrounded by people who didn’t.

He was brilliant in the way only quiet people can be—subtly correcting your grammar while you talked, solving problems you didn’t know you had, and probably hacking into a NASA satellite just to check the weather. We never really asked.

He is survived by people who loved him deeply: His mother and step-father, Jess and Curt Braun of Hays; his three sisters, Isabelle, Addie and Mabel Braun; his Aunt Terri and Uncle Scott Braun of Hays; his Aunt Jeri and Uncle Doug Braun of Lenexa; an impressive collection of obscure facts, and the knowledge that he never once voted for Trump—and may haunt those who did.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to The Trevor Project and don’t forget to tell your favorite LGTBQIA2S+ person you’ve got their back. And maybe yell “**** Trump” at the sky—he’d appreciate that.

Rest easy, Alec. You were quiet, but damn, you were loud where it counted.

A celebration of life will be held at his parent’s house at 3232 E 27th St, Hays, Kansas, on September 5th, 2025 from 5:30-8:30.

Memories may be shared on Alec's tribute page at www.keithleyfuneralchapels.com

Arrangements in care of Keithley Funeral Homes-Brock's Chapel 2509 Vine Hays, KS 67601.