Karl Batke, 1882-1970, Obituary

Carl Batke - Services will be held at 10 a.m. tomorrow in the Emmanuel Lutheran church for Carl Batke, 87, of 4404 Lyell Ave., who died in his home Saturday after a lengthy illness.

Batke, stepfather of Fresno County Supervisor Joseph A. Reich, had lived in Fresno for 56 years.  He was born in Russia.  He was a painter for 30 years for Jayne and Co. Auto Repair Co., retiring in 1954.

He is survived by his widow, Mrs. Louise Reich Batke; three stepsons, Joseph of Fresno, Dale of Norco and Elmer of Richmond; one daughter, Mrs. Anna Metzler of Fresno; five step-daughters, Mrs. Madeline Anderson, Mrs. Eveline Castelman, Mrs. Florence Likle, Mrs. Virginia Jameson and Mrs. Mary L. Lang, all of Fresno; one brother, Fred Batke of Fresno, one grandchild and one great-grandchild.

Interment in Fresno Memorial Gardens will follow services with Yost and Webb Funeral Home in charge.  The family requests any remembrances be in the form of donations to the church building fund.

The Fresno Bee, Monday, March 16, 1970.

Photo: 1941. Courtesy, Don Fredrick

Fred Batke, Death Notice, 1974

"BATKE -- In Stockton, December 26, 1974.  Fred Batke, uncle of Ann Becker and Ann Metzler both of Fresno.  A native of Russia, aged 86 years.
Friends are invited to attend funeral services Friday, January 3, 1974 (sic) at 1:30 P. M. in the chapel of the MARTIN FUNERAL HOME, 446 N. American."

Fred is the brother of Henry Batke (1877-1949).  We know that Fred's niece Ann Metzler, mentioned in the death notice above, is the daughter of Karl and Frederika Batke, but who is Ann Becker?  It occurred to me Ann Becker might be the granddaughter of Anna Batke (mother of Fred, Henry and Karl), who traveled with her and John Batke from Russia on the Pallanza.

Per the Pallanza passenger list, granddaughter Anna Batke was eleven when she came to Canada in 1912.  In 1974, she would be approximately 73 years old.  The death notice says she is living in Fresno, California.  I have been unable to find an "Ann Becker" of the appropriate age living or dying in California.

Does anyone out there know who this Ann Becker is?
 
The death notice was located in the Obituary Index File of the San Joaquin County Public Library, Stockton, California.  It is dated December 31, 1974, but no Newspaper title is given.  The Obituary Index File had been microfilmed and is part of the Family History Library's collection, MF#1786746.

Fred Batke, Canadian Border Crossing, 1928

On July 8, 1938, Fred Batke, age 35 and single, traveled from California to the port of Kingagnie, British Columbia on his way to visit his mother, Mrs. Anna Batke. The border crossing report states that Fred was born in Russia, but of German "race" and Russian citizenship. He states that he previously lived in Saskatchewan, Canada from 1913-1921. He speaks English, is Lutheran by religion and his occupation is a painter. He states that his mother is living in Kelstern, Saskatchewan. When asked to give the name and address of his nearest relative from the country from which he has come, he gives his brother, Karl Batke, 2749 Holly Street, Fresno, California. He has $30.00 and is traveling into Canada via the highway. This could mean that he is either in a car or on a bus. The last column on the form reads: "Action Taken. State whether admitted as immigrant or non-immigrant or rejected. If rejected give cause and state of appeal entered." Everyone else on page 194 of the boarder crossing document is listed as "admitted." At the end of the Fred Batke's row, it says "on appeal." It is not clear from this document whether he was able to visit his mother, Anna Lock Batke, or not.

Fred Batke, Canadian Border Crossing, 1930

This is a second entry showing Fred Batke crossing into Canada, this time at Climax, Saskatchewan. Dated April 24, 1930, Fred states that he is a "son" visiting his mother Mrs. Annie Batke in Kelstern, Canada. He is 41, born in Russia, from California and going to Saskatchewan. This time he is listed as an American citizen. He gives his "race" as Russian and says he was in Canada before, between 1913-1921, at Queen Center, Saskatchewan. He again states he speaks English, is a Lutheran, but adds farmer to his occupation of painter. But, instead of listing his brother as the nearest relative from the country he is coming from, he lists his mother again. He states he is carrying $200.00 and has $350.00 in personal effects.   He again is traveling by highway.  This time the document states he is admitted as an "immigrant."