William E. Batt, II

Although his life came to an end much too soon, William Batt, II truly lived in each and every moment he was given. He was a no frills sort of guy who worked hard, but he also played just as hard. Bill was a loving husband and father who was so excited to witness his family tree blossom to include eight grandchildren who were his greatest source of pride and joy. He had a unique sense of humor that gave way to everyone he knew having a nickname of some kind. Bill was a people person who savored every moment he had to spend with his family, and it was always such a treat for his family and friends when he made his amazing roasted pig. A stranger to none and a friend to all, everyone seemed to know Bill. He will never be forgotten.

It seems only fitting that Bill’s journey began during a time that was as vibrant as he was. It was the 1950s when blue jeans, James Dean, and I Love Lucy became part of our culture, and who could forget Elvis Presley and his rock ’n roll music. This was also the decade that witnessed Rosa Parks refuse to give up her seat on an Alabama bus and both Alaska and Hawaii join our union. Amidst this exciting time was a time of great excitement in the lives of William and Madeline (Benninger) Batt as they were eagerly anticipating the birth of their new baby as the beauty of summer was unfolding in Vicksburg, Michigan, in July of 1957. The big day finally arrived on July 10th when the baby boy they named William drew his first breath. He was the middle of three children, joining his sister, Spring, and his younger brother, David, in the Batt clan. Bill’s father worked in road construction while his mother had a variety of jobs that included various cooking positions.

In many ways Bill was a typical young boy. He loved sports and was active in baseball and football. From the time Bill was little he had a love for dogs, and it remained with him for the rest of his life. He had several friends who later became known as his “associates.” Bill played the piano and played a mean air guitar as well. As a student at local schools he took classes in the building industry while a student at Schoolcraft High School, which opened the door to a lifelong career in building.

After graduating from high school in 1975, Bill was ready for all that life had in store. He worked at Carter Lumber for a time, but this was only the beginning for him. He married Vera J. Peterson, and although they later divorced Bill was forever grateful for their two daughters, Heather and Alishia.

New and exciting changes were in store for Bill when he met the woman who would forever hold the key to his heart. Her name was Kerry Davis, and they met at a local establishment. She had noticed Bill around a few times, and he had caught her eye. Sparks flew right away, and the couple soon found themselves deeply in love. With a desire to spend the rest of their lives together, Bill and Kerry were married on August 20, 1983, in Schoolcraft. To their relationship she brought her son, Brandon Davis, and together they welcome their daughter, Meagan, into the fold. Bill loved cooking for his family and could roast pigs better than anyone. He also made a mean breakfast and amazing pancakes "cakes". Cooking for him always took hours, and everyone knew to stay out of the kitchen when he is cooking! Christmas was always his favorite time of year because it was a time to spend with his loved ones. Bill loved being in a group of people and was always the life of the party. Splitting wood was a bit of a hobby for him, and this was often a family affair, too.

Throughout his life Bill was a busy guy. He worked hard and taught others to work first and play later as well as to finish every project. Bill had numerous friends, or associates, and some of their best times together were spent at squirrel camp in Wolverine, Michigan. Many in this group were friends of Bill’s since high school, and many were also in the construction industry so they were always helping one another out in some way. Twice a year, Bill made the memorable trip to visit his father at Fort Custer National Cemetery where he always found a sense of peace. When it came to music he was classic country with a couple of his favorite artists being Willie Nelson and Hank Williams, and he did enjoy blues at times. On one occasion, Bill even saw B.B. King live. With a lifelong love for sports, he loved his Steelers and their team colors, black and yellow, and on a local level he loved Schoolcraft football and Vicksburg wrestling.

All who knew William Batt, II would agree that he was the heartbeat of wherever he went. He was vivacious, fun-loving, and full of energy, too. Bill saw to it that those around him loved life as much as he did, and he could be loud and animated while also being sensitive and humble at the same time. He adored his family, or “kin folk” as he called them, and he was an amazing role model to everyone he met. Bill will be forever missed.

William E. Batt, II, of Fulton, passed away on Monday, May 2, 2016 at the age of 58. Bill’s family includes his wife, Kerry; four children: Heather Batt, of Schoolcraft; Alishia Batt, of Portage; Brandon (Jennifer) Davis, of Decatur; Meagan (Nick) Sanchez, of Schoolcraft; eight grandchildren: Keegan, Cheyann, Elijah, Jayce, Taylor, Ramon, Gwenifer, and Adaline; mother, Madeline Batt; two siblings: Spring (Kip) Waltke, of Portage and David (Jenica) Batt, of Portage. Bill was preceded in death by his father, William Batt, and infant sister, Gaylynn. A memorial service will be held on Monday, May 9, 2016, at 11a.m. at Fulton Christian Church, with Pastor Noah Miller officiating. The family will greet friends one hour prior to the service. Burial of Bill’s ashes will take place following the service at South Fulton Cemetery. Please visit Bill’s webpage at www.lifestorynet.com where you can sign his guestbook or share a memory and/or photo. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the West Michigan Cancer Center and/or Hospice Care of Southwest Michigan.