My maternal grandfather
My grandpa was a very funny man as you can see in the photos. He was known as "The Mayor" of Wanatah. Actually Wanatah was too small for a mayor, but he was so outgoing that the townspeople nominated him anyway. He could talk to anyone about anything and have a new friend for life.
My favorite thing about Grandpa was that he taught me how to play checkers. I have beaten everyone in my family because he taught me all the moves. All this before I was 10, the year I lost him, the first death I had ever really known...
~~~
Wanatah Modern Woodmen Name Officer Slate
WANATAH - The Modern Woodmen have elected officers for 1966.
They are: consul, A. T. Rosenbaum; banker, Alfred Werner; clerk, Wilfred Werner; WATCHMAN, WALTER BATZKA; sentry, Carl Eckert; trustees, Fred Lawrence, Ernest Werner and William Werner; escort, Edwin Lawrence; and past consul, Frank Coplin.
These officers will be installed at the January 11 meeting.
--The Vidette-Messenger
(Valparaiso, IN), Tues., Jan. 4, 1966, Pg. 3
~~~~
WANATAH - Walter Batzka, 77, of 405 N. Main St., Wanatah, died Tuesday morning at Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, following a brief illness.
He was born April 25, 1901, in San Pierre, and had resided here for 45 years, coming from San Pierre.
He was a retired farmer. He was married June 8, 1932, in Wanatah to Dora Werner, who survives. Also surviving are a daugher, Mrs. Bruce (Joan) Bogan and a son, Kenneth Batzka, both of Valparaiso; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Douglas of LaCrosse and Mrs. Lillian Hamay of Phoenix, AZ., and two brothers, Fred of North Judson and Art of Monticello.
Services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ of which he was a member. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wiesjahn Funeral Home, and at the church from 11 a.m. to the time of services Friday.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and Woodman Lodge.
--The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County
(Valparaiso, IN), Apr. 26, 1978
My grandpa was a very funny man as you can see in the photos. He was known as "The Mayor" of Wanatah. Actually Wanatah was too small for a mayor, but he was so outgoing that the townspeople nominated him anyway. He could talk to anyone about anything and have a new friend for life.
My favorite thing about Grandpa was that he taught me how to play checkers. I have beaten everyone in my family because he taught me all the moves. All this before I was 10, the year I lost him, the first death I had ever really known...
~~~
Wanatah Modern Woodmen Name Officer Slate
WANATAH - The Modern Woodmen have elected officers for 1966.
They are: consul, A. T. Rosenbaum; banker, Alfred Werner; clerk, Wilfred Werner; WATCHMAN, WALTER BATZKA; sentry, Carl Eckert; trustees, Fred Lawrence, Ernest Werner and William Werner; escort, Edwin Lawrence; and past consul, Frank Coplin.
These officers will be installed at the January 11 meeting.
--The Vidette-Messenger
(Valparaiso, IN), Tues., Jan. 4, 1966, Pg. 3
~~~~
WANATAH - Walter Batzka, 77, of 405 N. Main St., Wanatah, died Tuesday morning at Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, following a brief illness.
He was born April 25, 1901, in San Pierre, and had resided here for 45 years, coming from San Pierre.
He was a retired farmer. He was married June 8, 1932, in Wanatah to Dora Werner, who survives. Also surviving are a daugher, Mrs. Bruce (Joan) Bogan and a son, Kenneth Batzka, both of Valparaiso; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Douglas of LaCrosse and Mrs. Lillian Hamay of Phoenix, AZ., and two brothers, Fred of North Judson and Art of Monticello.
Services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ of which he was a member. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wiesjahn Funeral Home, and at the church from 11 a.m. to the time of services Friday.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and Woodman Lodge.
--The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County
(Valparaiso, IN), Apr. 26, 1978
My maternal grandfather
My grandpa was a very funny man as you can see in the photos. He was known as "The Mayor" of Wanatah. Actually Wanatah was too small for a mayor, but he was so outgoing that the townspeople nominated him anyway. He could talk to anyone about anything and have a new friend for life.
My favorite thing about Grandpa was that he taught me how to play checkers. I have beaten everyone in my family because he taught me all the moves. All this before I was 10, the year I lost him, the first death I had ever really known...
~~~
Wanatah Modern Woodmen Name Officer Slate
WANATAH - The Modern Woodmen have elected officers for 1966.
They are: consul, A. T. Rosenbaum; banker, Alfred Werner; clerk, Wilfred Werner; WATCHMAN, WALTER BATZKA; sentry, Carl Eckert; trustees, Fred Lawrence, Ernest Werner and William Werner; escort, Edwin Lawrence; and past consul, Frank Coplin.
These officers will be installed at the January 11 meeting.
--The Vidette-Messenger
(Valparaiso, IN), Tues., Jan. 4, 1966, Pg. 3
~~~~
WANATAH - Walter Batzka, 77, of 405 N. Main St., Wanatah, died Tuesday morning at Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, following a brief illness.
He was born April 25, 1901, in San Pierre, and had resided here for 45 years, coming from San Pierre.
He was a retired farmer. He was married June 8, 1932, in Wanatah to Dora Werner, who survives. Also surviving are a daugher, Mrs. Bruce (Joan) Bogan and a son, Kenneth Batzka, both of Valparaiso; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Douglas of LaCrosse and Mrs. Lillian Hamay of Phoenix, AZ., and two brothers, Fred of North Judson and Art of Monticello.
Services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ of which he was a member. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wiesjahn Funeral Home, and at the church from 11 a.m. to the time of services Friday.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and Woodman Lodge.
--The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County
(Valparaiso, IN), Apr. 26, 1978
My grandpa was a very funny man as you can see in the photos. He was known as "The Mayor" of Wanatah. Actually Wanatah was too small for a mayor, but he was so outgoing that the townspeople nominated him anyway. He could talk to anyone about anything and have a new friend for life.
My favorite thing about Grandpa was that he taught me how to play checkers. I have beaten everyone in my family because he taught me all the moves. All this before I was 10, the year I lost him, the first death I had ever really known...
~~~
Wanatah Modern Woodmen Name Officer Slate
WANATAH - The Modern Woodmen have elected officers for 1966.
They are: consul, A. T. Rosenbaum; banker, Alfred Werner; clerk, Wilfred Werner; WATCHMAN, WALTER BATZKA; sentry, Carl Eckert; trustees, Fred Lawrence, Ernest Werner and William Werner; escort, Edwin Lawrence; and past consul, Frank Coplin.
These officers will be installed at the January 11 meeting.
--The Vidette-Messenger
(Valparaiso, IN), Tues., Jan. 4, 1966, Pg. 3
~~~~
WANATAH - Walter Batzka, 77, of 405 N. Main St., Wanatah, died Tuesday morning at Porter Memorial Hospital, Valparaiso, following a brief illness.
He was born April 25, 1901, in San Pierre, and had resided here for 45 years, coming from San Pierre.
He was a retired farmer. He was married June 8, 1932, in Wanatah to Dora Werner, who survives. Also surviving are a daugher, Mrs. Bruce (Joan) Bogan and a son, Kenneth Batzka, both of Valparaiso; five grandchildren; two sisters, Mrs. Ruth Douglas of LaCrosse and Mrs. Lillian Hamay of Phoenix, AZ., and two brothers, Fred of North Judson and Art of Monticello.
Services will be Friday at 1:30 p.m. at Salem United Church of Christ of which he was a member. Burial will be in Salem Cemetery. Visitation is Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m. at Wiesjahn Funeral Home, and at the church from 11 a.m. to the time of services Friday.
He was a member of the Farm Bureau and Woodman Lodge.
--The Vidette-Messenger of Porter County
(Valparaiso, IN), Apr. 26, 1978
Inscription
WALTER
1901-1978
Gravesite Details
My grandparents were married June 8, 1932.
