Verna J. Batten

Verna Jean Batten, 84, of Grand Island passed away Tuesday, May 5th, 2020, at Tiffany Square Care Center in Grand Island.



Burial will be at Grand Island City Cemetery. Apfel Funeral Home is serving the family.



Due to the restrictions of the pandemic a private family service is planned. Memorials are suggested to Third City Christian Church of Grand Island.



Verna was born on October 31, 1935, in Taylor County, Iowa to Robert and Maude (Long) Sanders. Verna, the second oldest of four children, received her education in the rural schools of Taylor County, Iowa and graduated from New Market High School in May 1954. She married her grade school sweetheart, Bernard Batten on June 22, 1956 in the Christian Church of New Market, Iowa. Verna planned on becoming a teacher. Her first job was with Fitch’s Dime Store in Clarinda, Iowa and later as a bookkeeper at Opitz Motor Company, also in Clarinda. Verna and Bernard moved to Red Oak, Iowa as Bernard had accepted a position with Brown’s Shoe Fit Company. While in Red Oak, Verna worked for Don Fill Motor Company.



The couple resided in Red Oak, IA, Nebraska City, NE and Maryville, MO before transferring to Grand Island in 1969.



Verna was a stay-at-home mom for her two boys in the early years and also worked as a seamstress out of the home. She loved working with her hands, knitting, crocheting and various crafts. Later, she worked part time at the shoe store.



They enjoyed many summer trips to Estes Park Colorado with special friends Steve and Marsha Webb. They also enjoyed wintering in south Texas. She loved the many new friendships made with fellow “snowbirds” and continued to correspond with them through the years. She enjoyed researching and documenting the Sanders and Batten family histories.



Verna was a member of the Third City Christian Church, and enjoyed helping with different functions and especially being a greeter.



The couple celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in June of 2006. They were married for 59 years until the passing of Bernard February 14, 2016.



She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and siblings Trula Carmichael, Nora Gilbert and Jim Sanders.



Survivors of the immediate family include sons Curtis (Patricia) Batten of Fremont, NE and Craig (Mary) Batten of Cedar Park, TX; grandchildren Andrew (Samantha) Batten of Kyle TX, Abigail (Clay) Cotton of Bertram, TX and Alexander Batten of Austin, TX, Davis Batten of Omaha, NE and Meredith Batten of Lincoln, NE and great grandson Kole Batten of Kyle, TX.



Additional survivors include: brother-in-law Clark (Marilyn) Batten of Clarinda, IA, brother-in-law Steve (Carol) Batten of Clarinda, IA and sister-in-law Barbara Batten of Mulberry, Florida as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.



The family would like to extend their heartfelt thanks and gratitude to the staff at Tiffany Square Nursing Home in Grand Island where Verna was a resident for nearly 7 years. So many people at Tiffany loved her, cared for her and treated her and her family like a member of their family.