G.R. "Bob" Batcheller

G.R. "Bob" Batcheller, age 75, of Sioux City, Iowa, passed away on Monday, July 27, 2015, at a local nursing home. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Friday, July 31, 2015, at First United Methodist Church with Pastor Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Logan Park Cemetery at a later date. Visitation will be from 4 PM to 8 PM on Thursday, July 30, 2015, at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, where Bob's family will be present from 6 PM to 8 PM and a Prayer Service will be held at 7 PM. Online condolences may be left at www.meyerbroschapels.com. Bob was born May 23, 1949 and had the wonderful opportunity to be adopted by George R. and Dorothy (Pangborn) Batcheller. He attended Bryant Grade School, North Junior High, Central High School for one year and Wentworth Military Academy for two years of high school, graduating in 1958. He went on to attend two years at Wentworth Military Junior College graduating in 1960 at the rank of Captain as a Company Commander. Upon his graduation, he was awarded the Burr Medal for leadership which is awarded one time a year to one person in the Corp of Cadets. He enrolled in Morningside College in 1961 and upon the untimely death of his father, quit college to become General Manager of the family business, Concrete Products Co. He was Chairman/CEO of the Company from 1961 to the time of his death. He married Kathern Smith in 1962. In 1969, he went back to Morningside College graduating in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science Degree and a double major of history and economics. In 1973, he was awarded the Outstanding Young Man of the Year by the Junior Chamber of Commerce given to a non-Jaycee member. In 1979, he started at the University of South Dakota and graduated with a Masters in Business Administration in 1982. In 1992, he attended Paralegal classes at Morningside College. Bob served as President of the Sioux City Construction League in 1977 and President of the Sioux City Industrial Development Council from 1979 to 1981, the year General Motors came to Sioux City. He became a Board Member of the Security National Bank in 1981 and served as chairman of the Credit Review Committee. In 1988, he was Campaign Chairman for the United Way of Siouxland raising $1,761,000 for Siouxland's social agencies. He served as a director of the Sioux City Chamber of Commerce from 1987 to 1990 and served as President of Greater Siouxland Inc. in 1992 and as a director for six years. He initiated the GSLI National Merit Scholarship Program for Siouxland schools and also the Leadership 2000 Program for people under 35 in potential leadership positions. In 1993, he was elected to the Sioux City Community School Board and served as Vice President for two years. He was also a member of the Yankton Library Foundation. In 1997, he was elected to the Woodbury County Board of Supervisors and served three terms. In 1998, he was elected as a director of the Security National Corporation and served on its Executive, Audit, and Nominating Committees and as Chair of the Compensation Committee. He served as President and Director of the Iowa Concrete Masonry Association and was a three term Board Member of the Masonry Institute of Iowa in Des Moines. Bob was a lifetime member of the First United Methodist Church of Sioux City and a former member of Landmark Lodge #103, Sioux City Consistory, Abu Bekr Shrine, White Horse Mounted Patrol and a member of ROJ. Bob was an avid reader and Harley Road King rider, enjoyed spending time at his cabin on Lewis & Clark Lake at Yankton, SD, and spending time in the Florida Keys. He ate, slept and breathed the construction industry, banking, finance and computers. Bob knew and liked many people and laughed a lot. Bob rode in the White Horse Mounted Patrol for 11 years from the 1961 Rose Bowl Parade to the 1972 Presidential Inaugural Parade. He toured China in 1977 with a trade group as a guest of the Chinese Government less than a year after Mao died. Shortly before his death, he was asked about his life and he said, "It's been a great ride. I have been so fortunate to have had a wonderful family, many friends and many business friends of my father who were more than willing to counsel, support and mentor me during my early years in the business. It was these people and many more who were the secret to my success and my achieving what I was able to do." Survivors include: a son Bob Batcheller and wife Jeanne of Sioux City and their sons: Nicholas, Reeder and Robbie Batcheller and Anthony, Christopher, and Justin Krueger ; a daughter Connie Schenk and husband Paul of Colorado Springs, CO, and their children Jason and Trinity Schenk and Adam Batcheller of Sioux City;one sister, Sharon Ratliff and husband Elmer of Fairhope, Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents. Pallbearers will be Bob's grandsons: Nick, Reeder, Robbie and Adam Batcheller and Anthony, Christopher and Justin Krueger. Honorary pallbearers will be: Jack Aalfs, Jim Browning, Bill Burke, Jon Cleghorn, John Gleeson, Gene Hagen, Patty Heagel, Shirley McCormick, Doug Rice, Don Ronfeldt, Kevin Vaughan and Kathy Wacheldorf. Bob's family respectfully requests that all gifts be in the form of memorial donations to the Sioux City Library Foundation or Girls, Inc. A Special Thanks to Dr. Rosenkrans & staff and North Park Assisted Living and Westwood Nursing and Rehab.