Leonard Richard Batts

BATTS, LEONARD R.
of Portage, MI

Leonard (Len) R. Batts, age 89, went home to be with his Lord on December 3, 2020. Len was born March 30, 1931 in Bedum, Groningen, The Netherlands, the second child of Albert and Anna (Knot) Batts. He immigrated to the United States with his family in 1947. During the Korean War, he honorably served in the U.S. Army from December of 1951 until September of 1953. On October 29, 1954 he was united in marriage to Edna J. (Bogema) Batts.

When arriving in this country, Len secured a job working in the building trades, which had always been a childhood dream of his. He worked in the construction industry for many years until a serious back injury caused him to look in a different direction. Len secured a position at the City of Kalamazoo Public Works as a supervisor in the construction area. He was employed by the City for 25 years retiring as the Assistant Director of Public Utilities. After his retirement from the City of Kalamazoo, he took the job of Director of Public Services for the City of Portage from which he eventually retired 6 years later.

Len was involved in the community through church membership at various churches and served as elder in several of them. He was currently a member of the Grace Christian Reformed Church. He was also actively involved as a life member of the American Legion Post #207. Len was the designer and construction manager for the Portage Veterans Memorial.

Len loved spending his free time with his family and especially his grandchildren teaching them about his love of woodworking. He did many projects with them. He also built pulpit furniture for many of the churches he served. He would do remodeling projects for family and friends as well as remodeling the house that he had built and still lived in. He also loved working in his yard and it was always cared for meticulously.

Surviving are his wife of 66 years Edna J. Batts; their two daughters Diana (Donald) Stewart and Linda Batts; three grandchildren Kevin (Joana) Stewart, Brian (Jenny) Stewart and Allison Stewart (Eric Elliott); six great-grandchildren Ashley, Brittney, Emery and Brady Stewart, Vienna & RJ Elliott; siblings Margrete Balkema, Otto Batts, Tony (Flossie) Batts and Clarence (Linda) Batts; Sister-in-law Ruth Batts; and many nieces and nephews. Len was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Anna Batts; siblings, Bert Batts, John Batts and Wayne Batts; brother-in-law, Joe Balkema; and sisters-in-law, Eleanor Batts and Ruth Batts.

Due to Covid concerns, there will be a private family visitation and graveside service. Burial with full military honors will be held in Ft. Custer National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Leonard's memory may be directed to Talons Out Honor Flight https://www.talonsouthonrflight.org.

Please visit Leonard's personalized web page to sign his online guest book and leave a condolence or message for his family at https://www.langelands.com.