Living

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Living married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Cass City Chronicle
Thursday, January 8, 1970
Page 9

Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Battel, Mark and Margaret entertained Mr. and Mrs. John Battel Sr. and Dan, Mrs. Lena Schwegler, Misses Patricia and Diane Howe of Knoxville, Tenn., Mr. and Mrs. John D. Battel and sons of Dayton, Ohio, Mr. and Mrs. Morris Sowden, Minnie and Rayford of Caro and Miss Diane Powell at a late New Year's supper Friday evening. Mrs. Forest Klein, daughter Mary and granddaughter Mary Frances of Port Huron joined them for the evening.

(Transcribed by Melinda McLemore Strong, Summer 2007)

Arthur W. Battel

Arthur W. Battel, 89, of Cass City died Saturday, Dec. 2, 2006 in Tendercare Nursing Facility in Cass City.

He was born Jan. 14, 1917 at home in Elkland Township to John and Bessie (Sowden) Battel. He married Marjory Magdalene Schwegler on Nov. 19, 1942 in Cass City Evangelical United Brethren Church.

Arthur was a livestock farmer, raising dairy cows and swine, as well as processed maple syrup on the family farm. At the time of his death, he was the oldest living member of the Fraser Presbyterian Church. His family were founding members of the church. Arthur was a 4H member in his youth and a 4H leader as an adult. He was an active supporter of the Tuscola County Fair and the Michigan State Fair, and participated in both by exhibiting livestock. During his years as a member of Fraser Presbyterian Church, Arthur held various offices, including serving as Elder since 1949; he also was a former Sunday School Superintendent.

Arthur is survived by his wife, Marjory; children, John (Reba) Battel of Dandridge, Tenn., Mark (Diane) Battel of Cass City, Margaret (Richard) Battle of Belmont; grandchildren, Michael (Andrea) Battel, Philip (Charise) Battel, Christopher (Kara) Battel, Robert (Sue) Battel, Brenda Battel, Daniel Battel; great-granddaughters, Laura, Elaina, Carla, Addy, Dori, Ella; sister, Lillian (Lawrence) Neaves of Las Vegas; sister-in-law, Betsy Sowden of Vassar; several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his foster brother, Morris Sowden.

Visitation will be from 2-5 p.m. and 7-9 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4, and 10-11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5 at the Kranz Funeral Home in Cass City.

Funeral services will take place at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006 in Kranz Funeral Home, with Rev. David Blackburn officiating. Interment will take place in Elkland Township Cemetery.

Memorial may be made to Fraser Presbyterian Church or the Tuscola County Fair Association.

Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.

Huron Daily Tribune (www.michigansthumb.com)

(Research):Census Information:

1920 Census
Michigan, Tuscola County, Elkland Twp
Enumerated 16 and 17 Jan 1920
SD 7 ED 178 Sheet 3B
70-73
Battel, John W Hd M w 32 M Mich Canada/Eng Canada/Eng Farmer
Battel, Bessie Wf F w 23 M Mich England Mich
Battel, Arthur W Son M W 3 S Mich Mich Mich
Battel, Lilian M Dtr F W 1 1/12 Mich Mich Mich
Battel, Daniel Bro M W 28 S Mich Canada Canada
Battel, Geroge Bro M W 22 S Mich Canada Canada

Arthur married Marjory Magdalene Schwegler on 19 Nov 1942 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. Marjory (daughter of Benjamin Adam Schwegler and Joanna Magdalena "Lena" Mark) was born on 26 Apr 1918 in Elkland Township, Tuscola County, Michigan; died on 20 Apr 2008 in Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan; was buried on 24 Apr 2008 in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City, Tuscola County, Michigan. [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]

Notes:

Attended the rural Wright School, located in Elkland Township on mile east and two miles north of Cass City on the southeast corner of Schwegler and Reed roads. A picture of the Wright School Girls-1931, shows Dorothy Deneen, Ruth Tuckey, Betty McCallum, Fern Schwegler, Helen Joos, Kathleen McCallum, Leila Battel (teacher), Marie Deneen, Alice Buehrly, Marjory Schwegler. Wright School Boys-1931, Lawrence Holik, Leon Holik, Keith Buehrly, Russell Ellis, Russell Striffler, James Tuckey, Calvin Helwig, Fred Withey, Clinton Law, Henry Hulbert. (The Way it Was, The Cass City Area Historical Society, Vol 7, July 2002, Number 4).

Marjory Battel was one of the cousins of BonnieMargaret Jacobs who searched their Bibles and records and picture collections to provide information for her 1981 manuscipt about the history of the Benkelman family. She and her daughter, Maggie, also identified people in the old family photos of numerous cousins, many of which are displayed on this website.

MARJORY MAGDALENE SCHWEGLER BATTEL

Marjory M. Battel, 89, of Cass City, died peacefully with her family by her side Sunday, April 20, 2008 in her home following a short illness. She was born April 26, 1918 at home in Elkland Township to Benjamin and JoAnna Magdalene (Mark) Schwegler. She married Arthur William Battel November 19, 1942 in the Cass City Evangelical United Brethren Church. He died December 2, 2006.

Marjory graduated from Cass City High School in 1937 as Salutatorian of her class. She enjoyed gardening. Marjory loved to read and was a very active member of Fraser Presbyterian Church. She was a Youth Fellowship Leader, Sunday School Teacher and 4H Leader. Marjory was a very giving, humble person. She served others and led by her example, asking not for acknowledgement. She loved to bake and cook, preparing food for her family and friends.

Marjory is survived by her children: John (Reba) Battel of Dandridge, TN, Mark (Diane) Battel of Cass City, Margaret (Richard) Bethel of Belmont; grandchildren: Michael (Andrea) Battel, Philip (Charise) Battel, Christopher (Kara) Battel, Robert (Sue) Battel, Brenda Battel, Daniel Bethel; great granddaughters: Laura, Elaina, Carla, Addy, Dori, Ella; great grandsons: Fisher and Andrew John; several nieces and nephews; special cousin, Sharon Fox. She is preceded in death by her sisters: Mildred Klein and Fern Howe.

Funeral service held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 24, 2008 in Kranz Funeral Home Cass City with Rev. David Blackburn of Fraser Presbyterian Church officiating. Interment will take place in Elkland Township Cemetery, Cass City. Pallbearers for Mrs. Battel: Michael Battel, Christopher Battel, Robert Battel, Brenda Battel, Daniel Bethel and Andrew Klein. Memorials may be made to the Fraser Presbyterian Church.. Family and friends may share memories, prayers and stories with the family at www.kranzfuneralhome.com.

Visitation: 2 to 5 and 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday 10 to 11 a.m. Thursday before the service
Arrangements by Kranz Funeral Home, Cass City, Michigan Debra L. Kranz - 989-872-2195

(Courtesy of Lorraine Smith Benkelman)

Maggie Battel Bethel indicates that she died of pancreatic cancer.

An Imitation of Christ
Scripture and message
Written and Delivered by Daniel Bethel, Grandson


12:9-21

Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good. Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honor preferring one another. Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord; Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer; Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.

Bless them which persecute you; bless, and curse not. Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits. Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. If it be possible, as much lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath; for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thrist, give him drink; for in doing so thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12

And that ye study to be quiet and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.


Message

The theme of this message is, "an imitation of Christ". That is who Marjory was. The first Scripture, Romans 12: 9-21, was selected by Marjory for this occasion. The Scripture describes the way Christians are called to live and Marjory sought to obey it. The second Scripture, 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 is a Scripture that Marjory read when she was younger and deeply defined her life an important crossroads. Allow me to tell you the story in brief:

As many of you might know, Marjory was salutatorian of her high school class. And even if you didn't know that, you probably know she was an extremely intelligent. After high school Marjory was awarded a scholarship to attend college by a local church group. At first, Marjory accepted. However, there was a series of devastating fires in the community and left several families in dire need and homeless. The victims of the fires came to the church asking for financial assistance but the church could not help because the money was already promised to Marjory for her scholarship. When Marjory learned of the need in the community she returned the money to the church instructing them to give it to the victims of the fire. She never went to college.

As I thought about this story and about Marjory I began to see the imitation of Christ - both intentional and unintentional in her life. I would like first to share the, perhaps, unintentional.

Christ and Marjory were both very intelligent people. They had opportunities to use that intelligence to advance themselves. Christ could have easily gone to Jerusalem, studied with and astounded the great teachers of His day - as early as the age of 12 but He chose to stay in His community. Likewise Marjory could have gone on to have higher education and accomplished who-knows-what. But she chose to stay in her community. Christ and Marjory saw needs in their communities and humbly sought to fulfill them. For approximately 20 years or more Christ learned the family trade of carpentry and worked hard to use this sustain his family and help others in need. Much the same way, Marjory married, learned the Battel family trade of maple syrup and farming, and worked hard at both. Finally, as noted before Christ and Marjory were both very intelligent people but neither had great schooling. In fact, when Jesus first started his ministry those who knew Him were astounded by His knowledge and wisdom. Christ was filled with the Holy Spirit which guided Him though His life and teachings but I do not believe that Christ just automatically knew the Scriptures He quoted. During his 30 years He very likely went to his synagogue, read, and learned the Holy Scriptures on His own initiative. Marjory did much the same. After turning down the scholarship Marjory made a commitment to learn all that she could. Not only did she educate herself in the Bible but in may other areas of subjects. Both Christ and Marjory did not begrudge what they did not have but rejoiced and took advantage of what they did have.

Yet that is not all to be said because Marjory very much intentionally lived as an imitation of Christ. The passage of Romans describes the actions of the Christian life. Now as a human being Marjory was not perfect; like all of us she had sins to be forgiven and imperfections to overcome. But that is not what we focus on when think of her. We think about her service, her unconditional love, her humility, her wisdom, and so on. And those we will miss the most. Yet I want to make an audacious claim. The awe-inspiring and admirable acts of service and character were not inherent in Marjory. She was simply not born like that. Those are merely fruits of her greatest accomplishment - the one we should respect the most. Marjory Battel's greatest accomplishment was her daily submission and obedience to Christ her Lord. What we will miss most about Marjory Battel is Christ in Marjory Battel. In a world where Christ is hard to see and often misrepresented, Marjory's submission shined the Person of Christ like a lighthouse on a dark and stormy night - and we were all drawn to it. The Apostle Paul describes it as such in his letter to the Galatians 2:20, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I but Christ liveth in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me, and gave Himself for me."

And finally, here is Gospel, here is Good News for us today. What we loved most about Marjory Battel does not pass with Marjory Battel. Christ lives and therefore we live and can choose to live the beautiful and powerful life of Christ as Marjory did. What we feel we have lost, can be found once again. If are but willing to submit and obey Christ as much as we can, even as Marjory imperfectly did, we fill find that the wounds received in her departure can be healed and that Marjory's life is also our life for it all is One Life found in Christ.