Dee Walter LaBatt, age 91 of Kalamazoo, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at Friendship Village following a long illness. He was on March 24, 1916 in Old Mission, MI the son of Walter Angus and Florence Irene (Ghering) LaBatt.
He was raised on a fruit farm in Old Mission, and it was there that he developed two life long avocations, gardening and fishing. Dee graduated from Traverse City High School in 1934. He obtained a B.S. Degree from Michigan State University, and an M.A. Degree from Western Michigan University. From 1955 to 1960, Dee was a science teacher at Mendon High School. He was a Biology Instructor at W.M.U. until 1963. Dee joined the Biology Department at Ferris State University in 1963, and retired as Associate Professor of Botany in the Fall of 1979. During his retirement years, Dee became an accomplished vintner of fruit wines. His small orchard and strawberry beds provided quality produce for the finished product. Dee and his wife Mary attended several Elderhostel seminars, including Ireland in 1988 and England in 1991.
Dee was an active member of the Michigan Botanical Club where he was an acknowledged expert on the flora of the Newaygo Prairie. He was active in the Michigan Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Dee is fondly remembered by colleagues and friends, and will be lovingly remembered by his family.
Dee was married to Mary (McMullen) LaBatt on Nov. 23, 1938 in East Lansing. She survives, along with 4 children, Peter LaBatt (Susan) of Oxford, MI, Walter LaBatt (Judith) of O'Fallon, IL, Barbara Martin (James) of Muskegon, and Elizabeth LaBatt of Big Rapids; 4 grandchildren, Kimberly (Ploehn) Martin, MD, Philip Martin (Angel), Michael Barton (Marcie), and Suzanne LaBatt; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexander Ploehn, Alissa and Jessica Martin; 2 nephews, Charles Brayton and David LaBatt; 1 niece, Maxine Brayton. He was preceded in death by his parents; older sister, Margaret; younger brother, James; and a grandson, Eric Barton.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the Kiva at Friendship Village, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI with Dee's son, Rev. Father Walter LaBatt officiating. Memorials are suggested to either the Heartland Hospice, or the Friend's Fund at Friendship Village.
He was raised on a fruit farm in Old Mission, and it was there that he developed two life long avocations, gardening and fishing. Dee graduated from Traverse City High School in 1934. He obtained a B.S. Degree from Michigan State University, and an M.A. Degree from Western Michigan University. From 1955 to 1960, Dee was a science teacher at Mendon High School. He was a Biology Instructor at W.M.U. until 1963. Dee joined the Biology Department at Ferris State University in 1963, and retired as Associate Professor of Botany in the Fall of 1979. During his retirement years, Dee became an accomplished vintner of fruit wines. His small orchard and strawberry beds provided quality produce for the finished product. Dee and his wife Mary attended several Elderhostel seminars, including Ireland in 1988 and England in 1991.
Dee was an active member of the Michigan Botanical Club where he was an acknowledged expert on the flora of the Newaygo Prairie. He was active in the Michigan Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Dee is fondly remembered by colleagues and friends, and will be lovingly remembered by his family.
Dee was married to Mary (McMullen) LaBatt on Nov. 23, 1938 in East Lansing. She survives, along with 4 children, Peter LaBatt (Susan) of Oxford, MI, Walter LaBatt (Judith) of O'Fallon, IL, Barbara Martin (James) of Muskegon, and Elizabeth LaBatt of Big Rapids; 4 grandchildren, Kimberly (Ploehn) Martin, MD, Philip Martin (Angel), Michael Barton (Marcie), and Suzanne LaBatt; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexander Ploehn, Alissa and Jessica Martin; 2 nephews, Charles Brayton and David LaBatt; 1 niece, Maxine Brayton. He was preceded in death by his parents; older sister, Margaret; younger brother, James; and a grandson, Eric Barton.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the Kiva at Friendship Village, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI with Dee's son, Rev. Father Walter LaBatt officiating. Memorials are suggested to either the Heartland Hospice, or the Friend's Fund at Friendship Village.
Dee Walter LaBatt, age 91 of Kalamazoo, died Saturday, Jan. 26, 2008 at Friendship Village following a long illness. He was on March 24, 1916 in Old Mission, MI the son of Walter Angus and Florence Irene (Ghering) LaBatt.
He was raised on a fruit farm in Old Mission, and it was there that he developed two life long avocations, gardening and fishing. Dee graduated from Traverse City High School in 1934. He obtained a B.S. Degree from Michigan State University, and an M.A. Degree from Western Michigan University. From 1955 to 1960, Dee was a science teacher at Mendon High School. He was a Biology Instructor at W.M.U. until 1963. Dee joined the Biology Department at Ferris State University in 1963, and retired as Associate Professor of Botany in the Fall of 1979. During his retirement years, Dee became an accomplished vintner of fruit wines. His small orchard and strawberry beds provided quality produce for the finished product. Dee and his wife Mary attended several Elderhostel seminars, including Ireland in 1988 and England in 1991.
Dee was an active member of the Michigan Botanical Club where he was an acknowledged expert on the flora of the Newaygo Prairie. He was active in the Michigan Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Dee is fondly remembered by colleagues and friends, and will be lovingly remembered by his family.
Dee was married to Mary (McMullen) LaBatt on Nov. 23, 1938 in East Lansing. She survives, along with 4 children, Peter LaBatt (Susan) of Oxford, MI, Walter LaBatt (Judith) of O'Fallon, IL, Barbara Martin (James) of Muskegon, and Elizabeth LaBatt of Big Rapids; 4 grandchildren, Kimberly (Ploehn) Martin, MD, Philip Martin (Angel), Michael Barton (Marcie), and Suzanne LaBatt; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexander Ploehn, Alissa and Jessica Martin; 2 nephews, Charles Brayton and David LaBatt; 1 niece, Maxine Brayton. He was preceded in death by his parents; older sister, Margaret; younger brother, James; and a grandson, Eric Barton.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the Kiva at Friendship Village, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI with Dee's son, Rev. Father Walter LaBatt officiating. Memorials are suggested to either the Heartland Hospice, or the Friend's Fund at Friendship Village.
He was raised on a fruit farm in Old Mission, and it was there that he developed two life long avocations, gardening and fishing. Dee graduated from Traverse City High School in 1934. He obtained a B.S. Degree from Michigan State University, and an M.A. Degree from Western Michigan University. From 1955 to 1960, Dee was a science teacher at Mendon High School. He was a Biology Instructor at W.M.U. until 1963. Dee joined the Biology Department at Ferris State University in 1963, and retired as Associate Professor of Botany in the Fall of 1979. During his retirement years, Dee became an accomplished vintner of fruit wines. His small orchard and strawberry beds provided quality produce for the finished product. Dee and his wife Mary attended several Elderhostel seminars, including Ireland in 1988 and England in 1991.
Dee was an active member of the Michigan Botanical Club where he was an acknowledged expert on the flora of the Newaygo Prairie. He was active in the Michigan Audubon Society and the Nature Conservancy. Dee is fondly remembered by colleagues and friends, and will be lovingly remembered by his family.
Dee was married to Mary (McMullen) LaBatt on Nov. 23, 1938 in East Lansing. She survives, along with 4 children, Peter LaBatt (Susan) of Oxford, MI, Walter LaBatt (Judith) of O'Fallon, IL, Barbara Martin (James) of Muskegon, and Elizabeth LaBatt of Big Rapids; 4 grandchildren, Kimberly (Ploehn) Martin, MD, Philip Martin (Angel), Michael Barton (Marcie), and Suzanne LaBatt; 3 great-grandchildren, Alexander Ploehn, Alissa and Jessica Martin; 2 nephews, Charles Brayton and David LaBatt; 1 niece, Maxine Brayton. He was preceded in death by his parents; older sister, Margaret; younger brother, James; and a grandson, Eric Barton.
Cremation has been conducted. A memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 8, 2008 at 11 a.m. in the Kiva at Friendship Village, 1400 N. Drake Road, Kalamazoo, MI with Dee's son, Rev. Father Walter LaBatt officiating. Memorials are suggested to either the Heartland Hospice, or the Friend's Fund at Friendship Village.
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