Kathleen Wach Batt

Sutton, NE resident Kathleen "Kay" (Freese) Wach, Batt, 86, passed away Friday, February 14, 2020, at Bryan Medical Center East Campus in Lincoln, NE. Funeral services will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Thursday, February 20, 2020, at the Federated Church in Sutton, NE with Rev. Mary Scott officiating. Interment will follow at the Sutton Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday, from 1 p.m. - 8 p.m., with the family present from 7 p.m. - 8 p.m., at Sutton Memorial Chapel in Sutton, NE. Memorial contributions may be directed to the family to be designated later. Kathleen was born October 9, 1933, in rural Falls City, NE to Harold "Toby" and Mildred (Lichty) Freese. In 1945, they moved to Omaha where she completed her education at Omaha Benson High School in 1951. She attended Hastings College from 1951-1956 receiving her Bachelor of Arts with majors in Nursing, Sociology and was licensed to practice. Kay married Robert A. Wach of Sutton, NE in 1956, and lived on their farm until 2018, when she began residing at Hillcrest View Assisted Living in Sutton, NE. Their family consisted of Connie (Leonard) Johnson, James, Barry, and the late Robert E. Wach. Her husband was engaged in farming, and a rural letter carrier until the time of his passing in 1987. In 2001, she married Robert G. Batt of Hastings, NE. They resided in Gold Canyon, AZ and the farm in Sutton. Kay pursued her career in nursing for 40 years until her retirement from the Hastings Regional Center. She worked at Henderson then Director of Nursing and Administrator of the Sutton Community Home, Clinical Instructor and later Director of the off-campus faculty of Lincoln General, Bryan Memorial, Immanuel Lutheran, Clarkson, West Nebraska Methodist, St. Francis, and Mary Lanning School of Nursing until the program was phased out. She was the Head Nurse of Female Security, then Director of Staff Development until her retirement in 1989. She spent many years in leadership roles of professional organizations including Nebraska Nursing Association, National and Nebraska Leagues for Nursing, Midwest Regional Assembly of Constituent Leagues for Nursing, and the Nebraska Comprehensive Health Care Committee for a feasibility study to establish a Nurse Practitioner program in Nebraska. Kay was a permanent member of the Argonne Unit 61, American Legion Auxiliary, and a member for over 61 years. She served in the local unit, as well as the District, Department and National events. She was the Auxiliary's nominee and recipient of the Who's Who Among Young Married Women in America award for her work as general project chairman of the community service project of area-wide immunization with the Sabin Oral Polio Vaccine. She became a member of the Auxiliary's Women's Vocal Trio and competed in three National contests. She was a member of Adams County Salon of 8/40, and was a Chapeau Passe and Secretaire of Area A. She was active in Order of Rainbow, Order of the Eastern Star, Daughter of the Nile, Mesa Nile Club, and Qadesh temple of Phoenix. She was an Advisory Board member of the Women's General Auxiliary of the Minneapolis Shriners' Hospital for Children. She was a member of the Federated Church, and equipped, organized, and directed the hand chimes program and was an associate member of the Gold Canyon United Methodist Church in Arizona. Her hobbies included music of all kinds, singing, playing piano, accordion, and percussion in the Maverick Band. She enjoyed traveling, golf, fishing, needlework, cooking, and teaching acrylic painting. She is survived by her daughter, Connie (Leonard) Johnson of Santa Barbara, CA; sons, Jim (Bonnie) Wach of Hastings, NE; Barry Wach of Sutton, NE; step-daughter, Debbie (Ed) Fulton of Scottsdale, AZ; grandchildren, Brian Johnson and Laurie Johnson; both of California; Cristy (Cliff) Bryan of Oconto, NE; April Wach of Hastings, NE; Katie (Lawrence) Weidner of Lincoln, NE; Jason Naylor of Decatur, GA; Amanda (Marty) Erschen of Indianapolis, IN; and Denise (Bill) Haley of Scottsdale, AZ; great-grandchildren, Taylor Erschen; Corin Bryan; Charles Naylor; and KaeLynn Adrian. She was preceded in death by her parents; sister, Dona Lee; brother, Harold; husband, Bob Wach; son, Bobby; and husband, Robert Batt.

Tributes

Kathleen Wach Batt

October 9, 1933 - February 14, 2020