Felix Batwinski

Felix V. Batwinski, age 93, of Arbor Vitae, WI (formerly of Kenosha, WI), died unexpectedly on Friday, January 9, 2015. Felix was born on June 16, 1921, in Lorain, Ohio, the son of Vincent Batwinski and Magdalena (nee Skarbinski) Batwinski; both parents came to the United States from Poland. The family moved to Kenosha, WI, when Felix was 4 years old. Felix was one of five brothers and sisters; Gladys (Batwinski) Murphy, Stanley Batwinski, Tony Batwinski, and Genevieve (Batwinski) Schrammeck.

Felix attended Mary D. Bradford High School in Kenosha, WI, and graduated in 1939. After high school, Felix enlisted in the U.S. Army after the attack on Pearl Harbor from 1942 to 1946. Instead of going to war after boot camp, he was asked to be a drill instructor at Camp Callan, CA. He was a drill instructor for 3 years before being deployed to Germany to end the war. Felix met Laura at a social club in Kenosha; he took her mittens and wouldn’t give them back until she went out on a date with him. In 1943, he asked her to marry him, and they got married in an Army Chapel at Camp Callan, CA. Felix and Laura had two children, Grizzly Bob and Ted. They had been married almost 72 years!

After serving in World War II, Felix began working for the Kenosha Fire Department in 1946. He retired after 30 years as the House Captain of Station #3 at the Roosevelt Road Fire Station in 1976. After retirement, Felix and Laura moved to their Northwoods (Minocqua) home on Fence Lake. Felix was an avid golfer. They lived on Fence Lake for 30 years. He loved to hunt and fish well into his 80s. He is the reason that his sons and grandsons continue the tradition! He was known for his pickled fish recipes! He also enjoyed fixing clocks as a hobby and helping out at Grizzly Bob’s Bait Shop, where he was known as Friendly Phil. Felix enjoyed retirement from the Kenosha Fire Department for over 38 years!

Felix was proud to be a part of the Stars and Stripes “Never Forgotten Honor Flight” to Washington, D.C., on May 2, 2011, and loved talking about the experience. He wrote a thank you letter to The Lakeland Times Newspaper, and the article was printed in the newspaper, which he put in a frame and hung on his wall. In closing, he remarked “this will stay in my thoughts the rest of my life!”

Felix was always willing to lend a helping hand to family and friends. He was good-hearted. He had the “gift to gab” and was very personable. He was a devoted Catholic who never missed mass. He was a member of the St. Anthony’s Catholic Church in Lac du Flambeau for a number of years, but recently transferred to Holy Family Church in Minocqua because it was closer to home. He was a die-hard Packers and Brewers fan and loved watching sports games on TV! He lived a very full and rewarding life, and he will be missed by many!

Felix is survived by his wife, Laura A. (Petersen) Batwinski of Racine, WI, his sister Genevieve (Batwinski) Schrammeck of Kalispell, MT, his son Ted (Darlene) Batwinski of Kenosha/Arbor Vitae, WI, grandsons Steve (Kim) Batwinski, Waterford, WI, David Batwinski, Racine, WI, Ted (Shenai) Batwinski, Pleasant Prairie, WI, granddaughter, Kristine Batwinski, Kenosha, WI, and great-grandchildren Amanda Batwinski, Kai Batwinski, Tristan Batwinski, Cierrah Batwinski, Reilly Batwinski, Soren Batwinski, Cailyn Batwinski, and Brock Batwinski. He was preceded in death by his parents, Vincent Batwinski and Magdalena (nee Skarbinski) Batwinski, his brothers Tony Batwinski and Stanley Batwinski, his sister Gladys (Batwinski) Murphy, and his son “Grizzly Bob” Batwinski of Grizzly Bob’s Bait & Tackle.

Funeral services will be held on Friday and Saturday, January 16 & 17, at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home, 3720 39th Avenue, Kenosha, WI, phone 262-658-4101. Visitation will be Friday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Saturday 9:00 a.m. until time of church service at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4816 7th Avenue, Kenosha, WI, at 10:00 a.m. After the church service, he will be laid to rest in Saint Casimir Cemetery in Kenosha, WI, next to his parents.