About Me

I am Brian Welhoelter, the founder and owner of Finding Opa. A veteran of the United States Air Force, serving as an Air Traffic Controller. My wife and I are the parents of two girls and one boy, and the proud Opa and Gramize of five granddaughter and one grandson, with a second grandson on the way. Born on the east coast in Baltimore, Maryland. My wife, Sheila and I currently live in Wenatchee, Washington.


My passion for family history started in my late twenties when I started recording family stories. I am a recent graduate from the Family History Research program at Brigham Young University – Idaho. Finding Opa is a culmination of thirty plus years of family history research, the desire to help others discover their family beginnings, and the support and encouragement of family and friends.

About Finding Opa

Wenatchee, Washington is the home of Finding Opa, founded and operated by a U.S. veteran, a passionate genealogist with twenty-five plus years of experience. He is a graduate of BYU-Idaho, receiving an Associate’s degree in Family History Research and a Bachelor’s degree in Professional Studies. Finding Opa was founded on the basis that family history is a world full of excitement, challenge, adventure, and love for one’s ancestors. He can help with all of your genealogical needs, whether it is helping breaking down a brick wall, organization of your genealogy, developing a research plan for you to follow or retrieving records. His specialty is researching military records. All of his services can be used by the beginner or the experienced genealogist. All of his services will help you preserve your family history for future generations. His pricing is comparable to other genealogical service companies, all work is guaranteed. He follows the code of ethics established by the Association of Professional Genealogists. Finding Opa provides a more hands on and personalized experience at a lower cost. We are a small genealogical research firm, that takes pride in working closely with one client at a time. Finding Opa wants to help you get to know your ancestors. Would you like to know more?