CAMP DOUGLAS - Allen Charles Batten, age 86, of rural Camp Douglas, died on November 20, 2021 at Tomah Health. Allen was the son of Edgar Allen and Bessie Edna (DeLap) Batten, and was born on May 27, 1935 at home in the township of Cutler, Juneau County, WI .
He graduated from Necedah High School in 1953, worked for a lady logger in Darlington WI that summer, and then attended Juneau County Normal School and earned his teaching certificate in 1955. He met Kathryn Colleen O’Rourke as a fellow college student, and they were united in marriage on May 23, 1956.
Allen taught school for 4 ½ years: 7th & 8th grade & being Principal at Lyndon Station, 7th & 8th grade at Wilton, then Cataract, then Mound View School at Tomah. He worked various jobs in between school sessions: for Finger Brothers Construction, for Rezin in Schofield, McFarland & Williams Bay. On the advice of Dr. Weston, to prevent future ulcers, Allen resigned from teaching. For 29 years he was a metal polisher at Walker Stainless Equipment Company in New Lisbon. His final job was working for the Union Pacific Railroad on the tunnel at Tunnel City.
Al enjoyed his family, helping others, bike riding when he was younger, telling and hearing stories and jokes, and buying things at auctions. He attended Hunter’s Safety courses with his children & some grandchildren. He was a small game, waterfowl, and deer hunter. He and Kate usually had a large garden. Al was involved with 4H in Juneau and Monroe counties, and liked dogs, especially Bingo, Reddy and Lucky. He was proud of his children and grandchildren. After he retired, he spent time helping out his parents, until they passed away.
Al is survived by Kate, his wife of 65 years, his children and their spouses: Charles (Lynn) Batten of Camp Douglas WI, Colleen (Kendall) Bolchen of New Lisbon WI, Denise (John) Huskamp of Newell IA, Bonnie Hedding of Tomah WI, Daniel Batten of Camp Douglas WI, Donald (Sandy) Batten of Friendship WI, Diana (Don “Butch”) Freemore of Camp Douglas WI, Donna (Greg) Roark of Leesville LA, Larry (Laurie) Batten of Mauston WI, Lorraine (Curt) Swanson of Frederic WI, William “Bill” (DeAnn) Batten of Camp Douglas WI, Alicia (Randy) Waltemath of Wyeville WI, Nathan Batten of Peoria AZ, Patrick Batten of Denver CO, and Eugene “Gene” (Diane) Batten of Warrens WI, and by special friends Darryl and Laurie Pree of Kewaskum WI and Bill Edwards of Denver CO, and by 30 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and many grandchildren-in-law. Also by his siblings: Ralph (Linda) Batten of Wisconsin Rapids WI and Jeannette (Robert) Hayward of Camp Douglas WI, by his in-laws Gordon (Lois) O’Rourke of Wilton WI Ruby (Duane) Granger of Oakdale WI and Ruth (Doug) Murray of Tomah WI, and many nieces and nephews and friends.
He was preceded in death by his granddaughter Heather Roark of Leesville LA, his son-in-law Leland Hedding of Tomah WI, his parents, his sisters and their husbands Edna (Emery) Roberts of Camp Douglas WI and Francis (Vern) Larsen of Tomah WI, brother-in-law Gerald (Waunita) O’Rourke of Chicago IL, and nephews Richard and Mark O’Rourke of Wilton WI.
A Celebration of Allen’s life will be held on Friday, November 26, 2021 at 4:00 PM at Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home in Tomah WI. Relatives and friends may call at the Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home from 2:00 PM until the time of service. Pastor Maxine Gray, formerly of St Peter’s Lutheran Church in Shennington WI and now of Calvary Lutheran Church in Minocqua WI, will be officiating.
In keeping with Al’s wish to “serve them some good food” and the Batten family tradition of eating well at any gathering, there will be a Reception at the Knights of Columbus hall in Tomah after the service. Casual wear (even hunting clothes) is totally acceptable.
Sonnenburg Family Funeral Home
