Lester L. 'Les' Batterman

LESTER L. "LES" BATTERMAN

Iowa City

Lester L. "Les" Batterman, 91, longtime area businessman and resident, died Tuesday, Feb. 6, 2018.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 10, at First United Methodist Church in Iowa City, with burial at Memory Gardens Cemetery. (Sunday parking ordinance will be in effect for the streets near the church.) Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made in his memory to First United Methodist Church or the American Heart Association. To share a thought, memory or condolence with Les's family, please visit the funeral home website at www.gayandciha.com.

Lester Lloyd Batterman was born Oct. 18, 1926, in Trumbull, Neb., the son of Henry and Esther (Hoagland) Batterman. Following graduation from high school, Les enlisted in the U.S. Navy, serving during World War II. On Jan. 30, 1949, he was united in marriage to Betty Vennum in Hastings, Neb. The couple moved to Iowa City in 1952, where he was involved in real estate and insurance. For over 20 years, he was associated with Insurance Associates of Iowa City, retiring in 2004.

Les believed in giving back to his community. He was actively involved with his church, First United Methodist Church, Sunrise Optimist Club, Chamber of Commerce (served as president), Home Builders Association (served as secretary) and the Military Affairs Association. He was the 2013 recipient of the Will Hayek Award, and also that year was honored to be one of the veterans who flew to our nation's capital on the Eastern Iowa Honor Flight. Les was a people person, never met a stranger, could work the crowd with the best of them, and enjoyed the gift of gab wherever he was and with anyone! He enjoyed the Iowa Hawkeyes, but still was loyal to his Nebraska roots. Les very much looked forward to his Wednesday nights, when he joined his friends at Colonial Lanes as part of the Wednesday Night Wonders bowling league.

His family includes his wife, Betty; their two daughters, Connie Olson (Jim) of Iowa City and Sheri Batterman of Woodbury, Minn.; five grandchildren, Erica George (Phil), Anna Olson (Kirk Peterson), David Azcona, Irene Azcona and Adrian Azcona; and his great-granddaughter, Skye George.

Les was preceded in death by his parents; and a brother, Lamoine Batterman.