Michael “Mike†G. Batenhorst, 85, of Kearney, died Saturday, July 6, 2024 at CHI Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. Funeral Mass will be 10:30 a.m., Thursday, July 11, 2024 at St. James Catholic Church in Kearney with Father Joseph Hannappel as celebrant. Interment will follow at the Kearney Cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, July 10th at St. James with a wake service following at 6:00 p.m. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Catholic Foundation, the Stuart Nebraska Community Foundation, or the University of Nebraska Kearney Foundation for Cross Country and Track. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney is in charge of arrangements.
Mike was born February 10, 1939 at the Stuart Hospital, Stuart, Nebraska to Robert and Mary (Hoffman) Batenhorst. He grew up on the family farm and attended school at Stuart, graduating with the class 1957. He attended Norfolk Community College to play football, graduated from Wayne State College in 1961. He taught school at Atkinson St. Joseph and Chambers, Nebraska where he had a championship Volleyball team. He then went back to Herman School of Physical Therapy in Houston, TX.
He worked in many facilities before coming to Kearney. Dodge County Community Hospital, Fremont, NE; Children’s Hospital in Omaha, NE, Schyler Hospital, Good Samaritan Hospital, Kearney, Bethpage Mission, Axtell and Kearney Clinic. He was instrumental in beginning the Physical Therapy Department at Good Samaritan in 1969 and the founder of Family Physical Therapy in 1993 with two employees and big dreams.
He married Elaine Maret on August 5, 1967 in Wood River, Nebraska. The two had met in Fremont, Nebraska. They had three children, Susan, Todd and Shannon.
His pride and joy were his six grandchildren. They were very special to him. He loved to visit, play games, attend their events and eat ice cream with them.
Surviving relatives include his wife, daughters Susan (Garret) Van Brocklin of Cortland, NE and Shannon (Bart) Eastwood of Blacksburg, VA, son Todd (Katherine) Batenhorst of St. Augustine, FL, grandchildren, Benjamin, Zachary, Anna, Eli Van Brocklin, Cole and Allie Eastwood; Sister, Maureen Flynn, Sioux Falls SD; Brother-in-laws Kenny ( Sandy) Maret, Bob Maret, Sister-in-laws Margie Leonard, Nancy Packer, Ramona Raile, Brother-in-laws Many, many nieces and nephews
He was preceded in death by his parents, in-law Frank and Alethia Maret, sister, Dolores Keathing, Brothers Eugene, James, Kenny |