Gojeck Faces Contempt Charge, March 2, 1955 Front Page Article

In an earlier posting on this Blog, a letter from Henry Batke, dated March 5, 1955, to the Editor of The Herald-Press, appeared.  At the time of the previous posting, the article referred to in the letter to the editor could not be located.  It has now been found and appears below.  Although Henry Batke, Jr., is not mentioned in the front page article, the accompanying photo, by placement next to the article, implies those pictured might have some relationship to the Communist Party.  Again, remember this is the time of McCarthyism.

The text under the photo reads:
TARGET OF ATTACK-- Man identified by IUE publicity agent, Ray Hansen, as Alec Leith, a one-time writer for the Communist newspaper, The Daily Worker, is shown above standing at right on the steps of UE local 931 office in St. Joseph.  Hansen charged over WHFB last night that Leith was formerly known as Alex Goldmann and that he wrote a "greeting" in the booklet entitled: "Two Decades of the Communist Party in New York State."  Leith, said Hansen, is handling UE publicity during the local struggle to retain bargaining rights at Whirlpool.  Standing on steps with Leith is Robert Mounsey, route 2, Eau Claire, one of the UE's most ardent local supporters.  Man with back to camera is identified as Henry Batke, who took a trip to Soviet Russia three years ago.

If you wish to enlarge photo, double click on image. To read Henry Batke's March 5, 1955 response to the photo and the following article, click on letter-to-the-editor.

The following article adjoined the photo on page one of The Herald-Press, March 2, 1955.

GOJECK FACES CONTEMPT CHARGE

ACTION LOOMS
AS WHIRLPOOL
BALLOTS ON UE

Probers Hold UE Leader's

Quiz Stand In Contempt

Of Congress

A contempt of congress citation for United Electrical' workers official John T. Gojack seemed virtually certain today in the wake of a house un-American activities subcommittee vote to cite him, the Associated Press reported from Washington D. C.

The impending citation against Gojack comes on the day when Local 931 of the UE, St. Joseph, puts its fate on the line in an NLRB election to determine a bargaining agent for the Whirlpool corporation's 2,400 production and maintenance workers. Chairman Walter (D-Pa) of the full committee said the group would approve the unanimous recommendation against Gojack. The house, which has the final vote on committee contempt citations, has always followed such recommendations in recent years.

Vote To Cite Gojack

The three-man subcommittee, headed by Rep. Moulder (D-Mo), voted to cite Gojack in open session late Tuesday at the climax of a two day tussle with the 38-year-old UE vice president. Gojack, who is president of the UE's District 9, hotly declared, "It is time that more people in the country challenge this committee."  Gojack had wriggled, evaded questions and defied the committee throughout his two days in the witness chair. His testimony followed that of Miss Julia Jacobs, 34-year old secretary of Local 931 in St. Joseph.  Throughout his testimony, Gojack invoked the first amendment guaranteeing freedom of speech—in refusing to answer the Red-hunter questions.

Refuse 21 Times

Monday afternoon, Gojack refused 21 times to deny that he was, or is a member of the Communist party, in the face of a series of direct questions from subcommittee members and Counsel Frank Tavenner.  Committee sources emphasized what they considered an important difference between Gojack's refusal to answer questions on his alleged Communist connections and the position taken by Miss Jacobs, who declined to answer 122 questions on Monday, pleading the fifth amendment, which protects witnesses from having to give testimony that might be harmful to themselves. Gojack's lawyer, Frank Donner of New York, said the contempt citation against Gojack would provide a clear cut court test of the use of the first amendment as ground for refusing to answer questions of congressional probers.

UE's national secretary-treasurer, Julius Emspak, used the first amendment before a congressional committee on Dec. 5, 1949. He subsequently was cited for contempt and a District of Columbia court sentenced him to serve six months and to pay a $500 fine after he was convicted of the charge on Feb. 26, 1951.

Emspak's conviction was upheld by the United States court of appeals for the District of Columbia on Dec. 19, 1952. Emspak's final appeal is now pending before the Supreme court. Gojack was active in St. Joseph in 1953 when the UE was challenged by the IUE and IAM, but retained its bargaining right in two NLRB elections at Whirlpool. IUE and IAM again are the challenging unions in today's vote at the St. Joseph corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of home laundry appliances and the UE's largest remaining stronghold.

Trinity Lutheran Church and School

The Batkes and the Links were very involved with their church in St. Joseph, Michigan. 

Family stories tell about how an anonymous parishioner of the Trinity Lutheran Church funded the Batke's and Link's travel from Alabama to St. Joe Michigan in the 1920s.  Most of the Batke children attended Trinity Lutheran School and many of the Batke and Link women were married at the Church.  Also, Batke and Link family members, including Henry Batke, were buried from this church.

Location of Trinity Lutheran Church and School, St. Joe, Michigan

As you can see on this map (double click on the image to enlarge), the Church and school were only a few blocks from the Batke and Link homes on Vine Street.

The Church and School are still going strong.  For current information click on Trinity Lutheran Church.

Henry Batke Jr., Letter to the Editor, 1955

Trip to Russia

Editor

The News-Palladium:

Smear by innuendo is a fair description of the reference in The News-Palladium of March 2 to my trip to Russia some three years ago. The inference is that because I visited in the Soviet Union for approximately three weeks, 2,500 Whirlpool workers should dump this (UE) union.  I visited Russia, as my friends know, because I was curious about the country the whole world is wondering about.  I hope to visit China and Germany someday and I trust that this will not be interpreted as an endorsement of Chinese or German policies.

In short, I hope to continue to travel where I please and vote as I please as guaranteed by the Constitution of the United States.

I am deeply disturbed as are others that the newspapers should use my trip to another country to smear a union.  This union has been part of our community for the past 14 years and has contributed greatly to the well being and prosperity of the twin cities and surrounding communities.

HENRY BATKE, JR.

714 Vine street,

St. Joseph, Mich.

This letter to the editor appeared in The News-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Mich., Saturday, March 5, 1955, page 2.  Unfortunately, I am unable to locate the March 2 article referred to in the above Letter to the Editor.

This was the period of McCarthyism.  The following short summary from Wikipedia outlines the issues of the time:

McCarthyism is the political action of making accusations of disloyalty, subversion, or treason without proper regard for evidence. The term specifically describes activities associated with the period in the United States known as the Second Red Scare, lasting roughly from the late 1940s to the late 1950s and characterized by heightened fears of communist influence on American institutions and espionage by Soviet agents. Originally coined to criticize the anti-communist pursuits of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy, "McCarthyism" soon took on a broader meaning, describing the excesses of similar efforts. The term is also now used more generally to describe reckless, unsubstantiated accusations, as well as demagogic attacks on the character or patriotism of political adversaries.

During the post–World War II era of McCarthyism, many thousands of Americans were accused of being Communists or communist sympathizers and became the subject of aggressive investigations and questioning before government or private-industry panels, committees and agencies. The primary targets of such suspicions were government employees, those in the entertainment industry, educators and union activists. Suspicions were often given credence despite inconclusive or questionable evidence, and the level of threat posed by a person's real or supposed leftist associations or beliefs was often greatly exaggerated. Many people suffered loss of employment, destruction of their careers, and even imprisonment.

Some Background from Henry Batke Jr.'s nephew, Don Fredrick

A Response to the Posting of the above Newspaper Article

August 11, 2010

"This is interesting.  Now that you have found the article and are sharing it on your blog, Here is a little background.   Maybe I should entitle my comments below, did McCarthyism come to St Joe in Uncle Henry Batke’s case?

"I remember something of the events behind the letter. While in family gatherings before and after his visit to Russia, Henry Batke Jr was known by the family Batke clan to hold forth on his views on the US government, Russia, religion, and unions.   I was a high school student at the time of all of this in a conservative - ultraconservative St. Joseph where I simply was too naive to register real understanding of all that was going on that was coming from him.  Today we can all say as the result of genealogical studies, I’m speculating, that as Germans from Russia we can understand his and our own interest in Russia.  Perhaps he visited family members in his visit to or from Russia. Aunt Anna Batke Pesko might know.

It's important to know that behind the letter he wrote, uncle Henry was a bombardier on a B-17 over Germany who brought to the whole Batke family clan a pictorial history book of WWII after he returned from his tour of duty--and more.

(By the way, it was last Sunday 8/8/10 when 7 B-17's of the 8000+ manufactured at the local Bomber manufacturing plant at Willow Run Airport flew over the Ypsilanti Willow Run airfield at an airshow that spurred memories of Henry.  I saw them and remembered the Henry Batke experience. Thanks to son Mark who invited me to view that airshow.

The Pictorial WWII History from Henry Batke Jr contained vivid pictures of bombing runs by the US Air Force which Henry explained in detail to family members.  In his favor, I admired his military service, was mesmerized by his description of bomber attacks over Germany as described especially to family members and was mystified by what became his singular views about the soviet union during the cold war (1947-1991 according to Wikipedia).  He was a reader, a thinker, and found little sympathy within the immediate and extended family for some of his views based on war duty during WWII and his Russia trip in the '50's.  Before I left to go away to junior college, I remember being able to ask him with others of the family some details of his thinking which he was always willing to share. He anticipated the 1960's in the mid 1950's by his views, one could say, because he saw the horrors of war from 30,000 feet from the bombsight which was his tool for directing pilots at pre-bomb release time and apparent reaction to the war and the tragedies common in the headlines.

Because my father Herman worked for 43 years in a union environment at 1900 Corporation and Whirlpool, I understood the need for unions as well as heard of both management and union problems.  In my corporate consulting and teaching life and because I was a student of W Edwards Deming, I have been ready to discuss both sides of the union and anti-union issue.  It was W Edwards Deming who implored American industry managers and union workers to work together.  Deming insisted that "the system" errors were 70% the fault of management, not because management had to work with unions, but because they failed to make the system work well for both sides.  Needless to say, unions and management relationships are no less controversial today.

The letter below reflects Uncle Henry Batke’s unfulfilled dream of going to both China and Germany.  Unlike uncle Henry, I was not only able to go to the Taiwan version of China but actually serve the Lutheran Church in Taiwan for nearly 5 years there to both learn and teach.  I was also actually able to visit Hong Kong with my wife Barbara, a stone's throw from China.  Last year Barbara and I visited Germany, if only at an airport on the way to Rome.

Unfortunately, Henry mentioned little of what he experienced in Russia that I concretely remember today.  I would recommend that parents urge children of this generation to experience both Russia and China and study these languages as part of the future despite what people may think and because of the benefits of studying first hand other people and their cultures.  I will always value Uncle Henry's experience and point of view as controversial in a city like St. Joseph in the post WW II and cold war periods of our country's history.

It is hoped that someone will find the Mar 2 1955 article in the News Palladium and share it."

Don Fredrick
PS. Thanks Elaine for placing Henry's letter on your blog.

A Response from Roger K. Smith to Comments made by Don Fredrick via Email

August 12, 2010

Don, you are right on, regarding your comments about Uncle Henry.  I do agree 100% with you regarding the facts about Henry, and his timing for traveling to Russia.  He and I have had numerous discussions about that trip, later in life, and the Palladium Article.  My Father too was very involved with Henry regarding the "attitudes" in the area over the trip.

I do remember the War Time albums that  "Hank" had....very nicely cared for and preserved....all of his Military Years......interesting to have him talk about his involvement.

Eddie Batke Remembered, 2010

Eddie Batke Remembered by his Nephew
(In Response to the "Making life-long friend on the baseball diamond " Post on Eddie Batke)

 
Uncle Eddie Batke to me was also special. Between my 5th and 10th birthday a few memories.  He was only about 5 years older than I so he was more of a "beach kids" mentor than an uncle.  I played baseball with his permission and encouragement at his sandlot location near the Engler home and Lake Michigan on many occasions. In the winter he would loan me his ice skates (you wouldn't believe how primitive they were - I think I still have them) and we would go down to Lake Michigan to walk the ice hills, find smooth patches, and skate. The smooth ice patches were about 3 feet thick and the ice crystal clear. The ice hills were something else. They were always rough, jagged, and at the edges where we encountered lake spray, slippery and dangerous on rough and windy days.  I still shiver just a bit as I consider the possibilities for tragedy on those ventures.  It was not unlike Uncle Eddie to bring his 22 rifle along for extra adventure. 

On several occasions during my visits to Grandma Batke's house on Vine Street and for entertainment during the other three seasons of the year we would walk the rails near 714 Vine and away from the train station in St. Joe.  Imagine me at age 7 or 8 standing on the bridge over the train tracks near Vine street while a freight train with two or three smoking engines went beneath that bridge pulling 60-70 freight cars.  I would get chewed at grandma Batke's house afterwards by parents for being covered with smoke and soot from the train, and he for taking me on this kind of a jaunt. I remember Brother Bob involved in some of all of this, but he was too small for baseball and often not allowed to go along for the ice hill trips.

This type of excitement, if known by parents, would certainly not have been permitted.  Uncle Eddie was officially guilty in all this but it was my own mischief that usually got these kinds of things going as well.  

I was too small to remember Bob Rennick's face, but his tribute to Eddie Batke was right on. I do remember some of the ball players on that sandlot -- Strohscheins and Licks, perhaps Bob Rennick was one of the faces I saw but did not know.  Others were classmates at Trinity Lutheran School in the earlier grades. Only after many years of being away from St. Joe and occasional trips back home did I occasionally see Uncle Eddie as a mechanic at a Benton Harbor gas station on duty by himself. I remember the drinking.  After that time, two or three encounters with him and his wife made me realize he successfully and by the grace of God made me proud of his change to a new found faith. His wife was the prime instrument in his change, and I did not see Eddie after he moved to live with her.  I heard and appreciated greatly the rumors of his happiness and felt the distress while away from home at the news of his death. 

Don Fredrick, July 10, 2010

A Remembrance of Edwin "Eddie" Batke, 1933-1997

Making life-long friend on the baseball diamond

We all have special friends, people we’ve grown up with, lived next door to, worked with or come to know as we make our way through life.  I have, and have had friends that I call special.  But, unlike with Eddie, I lived near them, worked with them or kept in close contact with the.

Eddie and I met when we were 9 or 10 years old.  I moved into his neighborhood.   We didn’t become friends immediately, and if the truth were known we probably didn’t care much for each other.

I was the new kid on Eddie grew up in the neighborhood and already had his friendships established. Eddie’s neighborhood was Vine Street and I lived on the pumping station end of Pine Street (now Lions Park Drive), a distance of five or six blocks.  It might as well have been five or six miles, and we didn’t get along.

The only thing we had in common was the Damaske brothers’ store.  It was at the foot of the Park Street viaduct and midway between where we lived and played.  He swam at Silver Beach and I swam at the pumping station.  He went to the Lutheran school and I went to Washington school. We all went to the Cosy theater on Saturday afternoons.

As we grew and our interest in sports materialized, I realized Eddie had a ball field nearer his neighborhood than I did.  It was directly across [the street from] the St. Joseph train depot.  A couple of bats, some gloves and balls will work wonders in bringing strangers together – witness two baseball games recently, on in Cuba and the other in Baltimore.

Our problems took considerably less diplomacy.  The kids from Pine, Vine and Lake streets came together to play ball on a dusty field with not much for a back stop and even less for bases, pitcher’s mound and home plate.

There was a Dorrow kid who was a bat boy for the St. Joe Autos, later known as the Auscos.  He was able to find us some bases, a pitching rubber and a home plate.

At game time, which was every day at about mid-morning, we would choose up sides.  Eddie was always one of the captains.  The other captain changed from time to time, but his role was consistent.  I was never picked early.  We played baseball and I was more in tune with softball.

We honed our skills at that field.  Having come together on a diamond we now wanted a place to showcase our talents.  None of us had ever heard of Little League, and I don’t know if it existed at the time.

What we did have access to was a softball league that played in the summer at Kiwanis Park.  All we had to do was have a team to get signed up.  Eddie took care of that part.  He did it every year we played in the league.  He also found us a sponsor.  Very few of the teams had sponsors, but Eddie always made sure we had one. It was the same one year after year, until we outgrew the league.  He boldly and confidently walked into Mr. Iaggi’s jewelry store every year and said, “Mr. Iaggi, we have a softball team and we would like to have some shirts, caps, a couple of bats and some brand new softballs.”  Mr. Iaggi never failed him.  His answer was always the same.  Eddie, he would say, “go up to the sporting goods store and pick out what you need and tell them I said it’s OK.”  Every year Eddie ordered the same red satin shirts with “IAGGI’S” on the front and a red cap with a big “I” on it.  Eddie the organizer.

Our ideas about school were in total agreement – we didn’t like it very much.  I went to St. Joe High in seventh grade and Eddie came along sometime later.  The Lutheran school hung on to them a little longer than did the public schools.  The Catholic school, by the way, never did turn them loose.

Anyway, by the time we got to high school we discovered many things in common and that, in fact, we like each other.  We played intramural basketball on the same team on Saturday mornings in the winter.  We laughed and joked our way through most of our high school years.

In the end, neither of us stayed around long enough to graduate.  The Korean War came along and gave us a good excuse to “get out of Dodge.”  Eddie went into the Navy and I to the Air Force. He was an excellent swimmer and I only swam to keep from drowning.

Eddie didn’t adapt much better in the Navy than he did in high school.  In time the Navy decided they didn’t want him any more than he wanted them.  I, on the other hand, had decided to make a go of it.  At this point, Eddie and I took different paths.  He took to drink and I took to catching up on the education I had missed and establishing a career.  Eddie pumped gas and greased fittings while I gained security clearances and went to work for the national Security Agency in Washington, D.C.

I traveled the world for the next 30 years while Eddie flitted from filling station to filling station with the occasional time out for unemployment checks.  I visited St. Joe many times over the years and each time I would go looking for Eddie.  Sometimes he was working, sometimes he was not.  Sometimes he was sober, sometimes he was not. Without exception, Eddie and I had good visits.  We would take about playing ball, skipping school, friends from the beach, teachers we liked, teachers we didn’t like.  All the usual stuff.

Eddie was a smart guy.  Easy to talk to, fun to be with.  He hadn’t married.  I had.  About 10 years ago, I visited with Eddie in one of the rooming houses where he usually lived.  He said, “Bob, I’ve quit drinking.  I’ve found the Lord and I’ve found a woman that wants to marry me.”

I was happy for Eddie!  The kicker was the woman lived in North Carolina and Eddie had only been away from home once and that was to the Great Lake Naval Training Station and we all know what happened there.  Eddie was afraid to leave St. Joe.  By late afternoon and our reminiscences coming to an end, I said, “Eddie, go to North Carolina and marry that woman.”

Eddie packed his bag, sold his fishing boat and went to North Carolina and married that woman.  I had occasion to travel through North Carolina on more than a few occasions and I always stopped to see Eddie.  He pumped gas, greased fittings, took his paycheck home and was a happy man.  For the first time in his life, to my knowledge, Eddie was a happy, happy man.

About 18 months ago, Eddie said he had prostate cancer and was going to begin treatments for it.  Eddie got no miracles, and he died last summer.

I still think of him often.  He probably didn’t accomplish much on the scale most folks use.  I judge him for taking charge of the bats and balls at the field, having the courage to walk into Mr. Iaggi’s store and ask for something for his team, and for gathering up the strength to leave his hometown and venture to a distant place for a woman he loved.

Eddie Badtke (sic) died a happy and loved man.  I helped carry his casket and I thought of a dusty ball field, boys who had become friends, men who had taken different paths, and I thought of the happiness he had found late in life.

I am pleased to call the old gas pumper, fisherman, and ball game organizer my friend.  Eddie, I’ll always remember you.

Bob Rennick, Kings Mountain, N. C.

Believed to be the Hearld Pallidum, c1998, St. Joseph/Benton Harbor newspaper.  

Article provided by Cara Batke, December 26, 2006

Batkes and Links Gather in 1942

In c1942, Karl Batke and his wife, Freiderike, were visiting Michigan from California.  Pictured in photo are: Henry Batke, Ruth Batke, Jacob Link, Anna Batke Metzler (daughter of Karl), Frieda Byron, Darlene Byron (child), Freiderike Batke, Mary Engler, Mrs. Jacob Link, Katherine Reck Batke, Don Fredrick (profile), Arthur Engler with Elaine Engler (child) and Selma Batke Smith.  Photo Courtesy: Don Fredrick

The Children of Henry and Katherine Batke - Obituaries

Katherine Batke Fredrick  (1911-1997)

Katherine Fredrick, 85, of St. Joseph, died Sunday afternoon, August 10, 1997, at her home.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. Wednesday Aug. 13, 1997, at Trinity Lutheran church in St. Joseph.  the family will receive friends from 3 to 5 p.m. and from 7 to 9 p.m. Tuesday at Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph.  Memorials may be made to the Trinity Lutheran Church Ladies Aid or Hospice at Home of Stevensville.  Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Hagar Shores.
Mrs. Fredrick was born on Nov. 30, 1911, in Ekatrinaslav, Russia to Henry and Katherine (Reck) Batke.  She moved with her family to Canada and settled in St. Joseph in 1924.  She often reflected that her time at Trinity Lutheran School singing in the choir and being a Walther League member were the happiest of her young life.  She was a member of the Trinity Ladies Aid for more than 50 years.   She was married to Herman Fredrick, who preceded her in death in 1977.
Survivors include three children and their families -- Donald (Barbara) Fredrick of Ypsilanti, Mich., Robert (Ruth) Fredrick of Salt Lake City, Utah and Jeannie (Robert) Hartman of Stevensville; a total of nine grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren were often the focus of her care and attention.  She is also survived by three brothers -- William Batke of Chicago, Henry Batke Jr. of Florida, and Edwin (Barbara) Batke of North Carolina; as well as three sisters -- Mary (Arthur) Engler, Anna Pesko and Ruth Jonatzke of St. Joseph.  A forth sister, Selma Smith, preceded her in heath.
The Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor-St. Joseph, MI, August 11, 1997, p. 7A, col. 4

Mary Batke Engler  (1914-2008)

Mary Engler, age 94, of St. Joseph, died Friday, July 25, 2008.
Mary was born June 22, 1914, in Canada, the daughter of Henry and Catherine (Reck) Batke.  Her husband of 71 years, Arthur, preceded her in death on July 12, 2006.
A celebration of Mary's life will be held on Thursday, July 31, at 11 a.m., at the Dey Florin chapel of Florin Funeral Services, St. Joseph.  Visitation will be on Wednesday from 5 to 8 p.m. Burial will be in North Shore Memory Gardens, Hagar Shores.  Memorials in Mary's name may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church.
Mrs. Engler was a member of Grace Lutheran church.  She enjoyed flowers, gardening, and in general working outside in her yard.
Mary is survived by her children -- Elaine Bush of St. Joseph and Kenneth (Nok) Engler of Woodbridge, Va.; five grandchildren; three great-granchildren; her sister, Anna Pesko of St. Joseph; and her brother, Henry Batke of Florida.
Besides her husband Arthur, Mary was preceded in death by her son, Charles Engler; two brothers and three sisters.
[Obit provided by Elaine Bush. Newspaper and date unknown]

William Henry Batke  (1915-2005) 
William Henry Batke, age 89, a resident of Lee Manor in DesPlaines, Illinois, died Sunday, June 26, 2005.   Mr. Batke was born August 12, 1915 in Saskatchewan, Canada and immigrated to the US with his family in 1921.  He is survived by his son Bruce of DesPlaines; sisters Mary Engler and Anna Pesko, both of St. Joseph, Michigan; and a brother Henry of Florida.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Katherine (Reck) Batke; his wife Edna (Bednark); son, Jerald William and daughter, Cynthia Gibson; three sisters, Katherine Fredrick, Selma Smith and Ruth Marie Jonatzke and a brother Edwin.  Funeral arrangements are private.

[The family believes no obituary was published so I have written a tribute to William reflective of information as of the date of his death.]

Selma Batke Smith  (1918-1980)

Mrs. Olen (Selma) Smith, 61, 413 Beals Place, Seminole, Okla., formerly of St. Joseph and Buchanan, died Thursday at Seminole Municipal Hospital.

Friends may call beginning Sunday at 10 a.m. at Kerley and Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph, where funeral services will be held Monday at 1 p.m.  Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery, Buchanan.  Memorials may be made to the American Cancer society.

Mrs. Smith was born Jan. 27, 1919 in Canada.  She was a member of St. Johns Lutheran Church, Shawnee, Okla.  Survivors include: her husband; one son, Roger of Chicago, Ill.; two daughters -- Mrs. Jeff (Judy) Jacobs of Atlanta, Ga., Cheryl Smith of Seminole; four grandchildren; four sisters -- Mrs. Katherine Frederick, Mrs. Alex (Anna) Pesko, Mrs. Robert (Ruth) Jonatzke, all of St. Joseph, Mrs. Arthur (Mary) Engler of Coloma; and three brothers -- William and Henry Batke, both of St. Joseph, Edward Batke of Coloma.

The Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, July 25, 1980

Anna Batke Pesko – Living

Henry Robert Batke (1924-2008)

Henry R. Batke, Jr. 84, Oakland, died Wednesday.  Banfield Funeral Home, Winter Springs.

Orlando

Sentinel, Orlando, Florida, December 27, 2008, page B8

Ruth Batke Jonatzke  (1931-1999)

St. Joseph -- Ruth Marie (Batke) Jonatzke, 68, of St. Joseph died June 20, 1999, at Lakeland Specialty Hospital, Berrien Center.

Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Kerley & Starks Funeral Home, St. Joseph, where visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m.  Thursday.  Cremation has taken place.  Memorials may be made to Hospice at Home or the Kidney Foundation.

She was born June 5, 1931, in St. Joseph.  She retired from Williams Brothers Paper Box Co.

Survivors include: four sons -- Robert (Gay) Jonatzke of Benton Harbor, Michael Jonatzke of Niles, Steven (Lisa) Jonatzke of Holiday, Fla., and Gerald Jonatzke of St. Joseph; a daughter, Valerie (Keith) Hafer of Sodus; seven grandchildren -- Tiffany Jonatzke, Kristina Lawton, Rebecca Jonatzke, Andrew Jonatzke, Stephanie Hafer, Matthew Jonatzke and Brennen Jonatzke; two sisters -- Anna Pesko and Mary (Arthur) Engler, both of St. Joseph; and two brothers -- Henry Batke of Davie, Fla., and William Batke of Schaumberg, Ill.

Herald-Palladium, Benton Harbor, Michigan, June 23, 1999.

Edwin Arthur Batke  (1933-1997)

Edwin A. Batke, 64, died Thursday, Nov. 27, 1997, at Moses H. Cone Hospital.

Funeral service will be at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Nov. 30, 1997, at Christ Covenant Church with Pastor David Longobardo officiating. Burial will follow in Guilford Memorial Park.

Mr. Batke was employed with Bobby's BP and was a member of Christ Covenant Church.

He is survived by his wife Barbara Batke of the home; stepchildren, Derrick Green of Swansboro; Paige Green of Reidsville; three sisters; two brothers; and nine grandchildren.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 2:30 p.m. at the church Sunday, prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Hospice at Greensboro, 2500 Summit Ave., Greensboro, N.C. 27405 or Teen Challenge, 1912 Boulevard St., Greensboro, NC 27407 or Christ Covenant School Fund, 1414 Cliffwood Dr., Greensboro, NC 27406.

Forbis & Dick Guilford Chapel is serving the family.

Greensboro News & Record, November 29, 1997, page B3