Richard Henry "Dick" Batenhorst

Richard H. (Dick) Batenhorst was born on September 18, 1926 to Anton and Clara Halbur Batenhorst in Cedar Rapids, Nebraska. Following the death of his mother in 1929, he was raised by his father on farms in the Cedar Rapids area during what Dick referred to as the “Dirty Thirties”. He graduated from Cedar Rapids High School in 1945 and worked a variety of jobs in the Cedar Rapids area. In 1949 he had his first date with Joan Kennedy of Cedar Rapids. They were married on September 30, 1950, and this year celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. In 1950, Dick began his career as a John Deere farm equipment parts manager. From 1962 to 1995 he worked for Callahan Implement, which became Kaschke Company, in North Platte. His expertise and work ethic made him a well-known and valuable employee who made a substantial contribution to the growth of the company. Following his retirement he and Joan moved to Omaha to be closer to their children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, Dick was preceded in death by his brothers Roman, Henry and Robert. In addition to Joan, he is survived by his sister and brother-in-law, Lorraine and Don White of Burbank, California; daughter and son-in-law Nadine and Bob Karr of Omaha; sons and daughters-in-law Russ and Mary of Hastings, Nebraska, Greg and Mary Lou of O’Fallon, Missouri and Gary and Ellen Batenhorst of Omaha; grandchildren Heidi Sleper and her husband Adam, Jaime Short and her husband Justin, Julia Batenhorst, Patrick Batenhorst and his wife Rose, and Tony Batenhorst and his fiancée, Sarah Benal; as well as great grandchildren Kalen, Sabrina, Isabelle and Cameron Short and Jamison and Clara Sleper; other sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and manynieces and nephews. Dick was a member of the Knights of Columbus for over 50 years, serving a term as Nebraska State Deputy. He also was a member of the Fourth Degree of the Knights of Columbus. He served on parish councils and Catholic school boards in parishes in North Platte and Omaha. He played an active role on the building committee at St. James Church in Omaha, which made the decision to build the church from which he is being laid to rest. Dick was an avid sports fan with a special affinity for the Creighton men’s basketball team, the University Nebraska football and volleyball teams and his most recent sports interest—the Kansas City Royals. He loved spending time with his family, manicuring a perfect lawn, gardening, sitting on his deck while enjoying an occasional Bud and grilling steaks. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, and we will all miss him greatly.



Services:

A Mass of Christinan Burialwill be held Monday, November 9, 2015, 10:00 A.M. at St. James Catholic Church, 4710 North 90th Street Omaha, Nebraska.



Visitation:

Visitation begins Sunday 2:00 p.m., November 8, 2015, at the John A. Gentleman Mortuaries,72nd Street Chapel, 1010 North 72 Street Omaha, Nebraska 68114, with a Wake Service at 5:00 PM.



Interment:

Calvary Cemetery, Omaha, Nebraska.