JAY DEE BATTENBERG Sr.

Jay Dee Battenberg, Sr. peacefully passed away Saturday, Aug. 6, 2011, at his care facility Sunrise of Lenexa, Kan., at the age of 82. Jay was born on July 3, 1929, in Chicago, Ill, to Jay Donald and Bernice Agnes (Gilbert) Battenberg. Growing up in DePere, Wis. Jay graduated from DePere High School in 1947 and then attended prestigious Columbia University in New York City. There, he met his future wife, Margaret Elizabeth Gordon of New York City, who he married shortly after graduation in August 1951. He was Korean War veteran who served as a Marine Corps field officer. He pursued a successful business career after military service, initially working for Fort Howard Paper Company in Green Bay, Wis. He was recruited in 1962 by Hallmark Cards, to establish and be the first President of Hallmark's new subsidiary venture, Osage Paper Products, in Osage City, Kan. Jay remained with Hallmark taking on various executive responsibilities at Hallmarks production facility in Leavenworth Kan., and corporate headquarters, Crown Center in Kansas City, Mo. He retired from Hallmark in 1982 as Executive Vice- President of Crown Center Redevelopment. Jay Dee was preceded in death by his daughter, Peggy Ann Whitaker, in 1996 and his wife, Margaret "Peggy", in 2001. He is survived by a brother, Donald Battenberg of Johnson Creek, Wis.; three children and their spouses, Jay Dee, Jr. (Susan), Jon Gordon, (Karyn) and Elizabeth Jane Laningham, (Scott); 18 grandchildren; and one great- grandchild. Following cremation, a public memorial service is planned in Leavenworth, Kan., at the R.L. Leintz Funeral Home, 4701 10th Ave. on Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011, at 10:30 am. Following the service, the family will have a catered reception at the facility for any family and friends attending. The family would also like to say how compassionate and loving the staffs at Sunrise as well as the hospice staff with Vitas were in Jay's final days. The family suggests any donations be made to the United Way chapter in your community.