Joe M. Batthauer

New Castle - Although we are sad, we celebrate that Joe and Janna Batthauer are together again.

Joe passed away at the age of 78 in a relaxed sleep on January 12, 2024. His wife Janna died in 2017 and for the last six years he has desperately longed to be with her again.

Joe was born to Johnny and Agnes Batthauer in 1945. He would have turned 79 on January 30th. He lived most of his life in Anderson Indiana, only moving away for a couple of years with his young family to southwest Florida.

Joe was a loving and dedicated husband, father, and provider. He worked hard all his life. Even in the last couple of years while living in the Waters Nursing Home of New Castle, in his mind he was always working on something. One night he had crawled under his bed and when the nursing staff asked what he was doing under there he told them he was working on a motor, believing his bed was a truck. They said it took some time to convince him to stop working and get out from under it. While in the Waters he was thankfully usually confused, believing his wife Janna was "up at the house" and that he was in his shop at home working. For Joe and his family his confusion was definitely a blessing. Had he known otherwise, we don't believe he would have been happy at all.

Joe married his high school sweetheart on June 28 of 1964. They lived in Anderson and started their family of four there. They had two boys- Andy, wife Julie and Blake, wife Kelly. After living in Florida for a couple of years Joe brought his family back to Indiana and bought 5 acres and a mobile home in Daleville for his family to live in while he built a shop to work in and a home for his family. He worked in his shop and could build or repair anything he decided he wanted to. When he wasn't making money to support his family he was building his house when he had the money to put into it. It took about 3 years to complete the home but when he was finished, he had a beautiful new house that he built.

For many years Joe could be seen in his daily driver, a 1931 Ford going back and forth from his body shop in Yorktown to the paint and parts store in Muncie or wherever he needed to go. He was invited to and attended many prestigious car shows including the Pebble Beach Concours d'Elegance. Joe was also a volunteer firefighter for the town of Daleville and a Boy Scout Leader for Troop 74 of Daleville. He served the community he lived in well.

Joe leaves behind his two sons Andy; wife Juile and Blake; wife Kelly; four grandchildren DJ; wife Nicole, Sam, Lexie and Cassie; 3 great grandchildren, Andrew, Leo and Clara Batthauer, and a Sister Suzette Doty. While we wish for more time with them, we are pleased that Joe and Janna are together again.

Traditional funeral services were not held. There was a private family gathering held on January 15th. Joe's earthly remains will be cremated and mixed with Janna's then the husband and wife will be buried together in a double urn at Anderson Memorial Park cemetery.

Family and friends are asked to share stories with each other of memories and fun times that Joe and Janna were a part of. Please remember them both with smiles and laughter of fun times together.