Sixth Generation

73. Lois Ann BATTEN was born on 4 December 1930 in Camp Douglas, Cutler Township, Juneau County, WI.⁸⁵ She died on 4 November 2012 at the age of 81.⁸⁵

Obituary Notes: "Lois Ann Batten Hascek passed away Sunday, Nov. 4, 2012. She was born in Camp Douglas, Wis., on Dec. 14, 1930, to Ruth Elsie (Bruder) Batten and Charles Batten at the home of her father’s grandparents Emma and Jacob Prell. Lois’s parents lived on a farm in the hills south of Oakdale and they were concerned about having too much snow for the doctor to come.

The following year her parents bought a home in Shennington, Wis. Her father died March 8, 1935, leaving Ruth with three daughters from 3 months old to 4 years old. In 1942 Ruth moved to Sparta with her girls. Lois was in seventh grade. She made many friends and excelled in school.

Ruth married Marty Riggs and in 1947 the family moved to Tomah. Lois was in the Tomah graduating class of 1948 where she again had been an exemplary student which earned a full nursing scholarship from the Tomah Woman’s Study Club to St. Francis School of Nursing in La Crosse, Wis. — the first female recipient of this scholarship.

Through the years of nursing school she was engaged to Bernard Dechant. Together they had a daughter Lynn on Oct.30, 1951. Bernard did not live to meet this child as he died in an auto accident in June.

Lois started her nursing career with the Veterans Administration first in Tomah, then Spokane, Wash., followed by a 32-year tenure at Edward Hines VA Hospital in Chicago. She also worked at Tomah Memorial Hospital, St. Mary’s in Sparta, and after retirement, at the Tomah Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. The highlight of her career was cardiac surgery at Hines. She loved surgery and the marvels of the human heart. She received many awards and was chosen as the operating room nurse-supervisor for the first heart transplant done by the United States Veterans Administration.

On June 17, 1961, Lois married Robert Hascek. After the birth of their daughter, Tamara, on Sept. 18, 1962, they raised their daughters in Berwyn and Westchester, Ill.

Upon retirement in 1989 she and Bob moved back to Tomah where she enjoyed being in close proximity to her mother Ruth, and loving sisters Helen and Phyllis. She also picked up old high school friendships with Jerry Keene and now Katherine, and Dr. and Pat Kozarek.

Lois has had a lifelong love of nursing, her family, and reading and after her years in nursing, a need to have everything sanitary.

She has suffered with Alzheimer’s disease for the past several years. Her husband, Bob, has cared for her at home. The past few years, the family was blessed with the care of Linda, Jenny, Alicia, Brenda and Velma, and most recently Lindsay. They have been fantastic compassionate home-care givers, our earth-bound Angels. Lois was also blessed with the care and watchful eyes of Dr. Jim Deming.

Lois is survived by her husband, Bob, of Tomah; daughters, Tamara Hascek (Dodie) of Illinois, Lynn (Brian) Abel of Virginia, their children Bradley Abel (Megan) of California, and son Brock, and Jessica (Dan) Letscher of Pennsylvania, their children Jocelyn and Nathanial; stepchildren Carl (JoAnne), Diana (Gilbert), daughter Lila (Adam) Evans and their son Andrew, Bob (Eva) and their children Anna and Glenn, all of Illnois; sister Phyllis (Martin) Snider of Tomah and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, and many lifelong friends.

She was preceded in death by her sister Helen Johnson, her parents and stepfather Marty Riggs and many loving aunts and uncles.

Her memorial and interment to Oakdale Cemetery in Oakdale, Wis., will be at a later date, where she will be reunited with her family. God speed our newest angel."

Lois Ann BATTEN and Robert William "Bob" HASCEK were married on 17 June 1961.⁸⁵ Robert William "Bob" HASCEK was born on 6 August 1924 in Riverside, Cook County, IL.⁸⁶ He died on 26 April 2015 at the age of 90.⁸⁶

Obituary Notes: "Robert (Bob) William Hascek passed away Sunday, April 26, 2015.
He was born Aug. 6, 1924, in Riverside, Ill., to Aquina (Bulich) Hascek and Samuel Hascek.
Bob joined the U.S. Army at age 17, and was immediately assigned to the First Marine Division, 5th Weapons Company of the Marine Corp. He served during World War II for a duration of three years in the Pacific arena including Peleliu, Guadalcanal, New Guinea and New Britain.

His second marriage was to Lois Ann (Batten) Hascek, June 17, 1961, in Tomah. He worked as a flooring/cement mason and they raised their family in Westchester, Ill.
They retired in Tomah, to be near Lois’ family. Bob adapted immediately and Tomah became his new home!

Robert is survived by children, Diana (Gilbert) Seeber, their daughter, Lila (Adam) Evans, Robert (Eva) Hascek and their children, Anna and Glenn, Lynn (Brian) Abel of Virginia, their children Bradley Abel (Arika) of California, and Jessica (Dan) Letscher of Pennsylvania, Carl (Joanne) Hascek, Tamara Hascek (Dodie) of Illinois.

Robert was preceded in death by his wife, Lois (Batten) Hascek; and brothers, Arthur Hascek and Samuel Hascek.

Everyone who knew Bob was aware that he was quite a story teller. He was also a pretty decent cook, which his family appreciated, especially at holidays while he exclaimed “abudanza.”

Family will host a tribute/memorial/celebration for Bob and Lois from 2 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 24, at Tomah VFW. Please bring and share your favorite memories of these two very special people, Bob and Lois Hascek."

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Lois Ann BATTEN and Robert William "Bob" HASCEK had the following children:

Lois Ann BATTEN and Martin "Marty" RIGGS were married in 1947.⁸⁵ Martin "Marty" RIGGS was born (date unknown).

Bernard DECHANT died in 1951.

Lois Ann BATTEN and Bernard DECHANT had the following children: