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 the late Vincent and Magdalena (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, Stanley, Tony and Genevieve.

He 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 A. Petersen 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.  They had two children, Robert “Grizzly Bob” and Ted.  They had been married almost 72 years!

After serving in World War II, He 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.  Felix enjoyed retirement from the Kenosha Fire Department for over 38 years!

After retirement, Felix and Laura moved to their Northwoods (Minocqua) home on Fence Lake.  They lived on Fence Lake for 30 years.  An avid golfer, he also 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 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 loving wife, Laura A. Batwinski of Racine, WI; his son, Ted (Darlene) Batwinski of Kenosha/Arbor Vitae, WI; his grandsons, Steve (Kim) Batwinski, David Batwinski and Ted (Shenai) Batwinski; his granddaughter, Kristine Batwinski; his great-grandchildren, Amanda, Kai, Tristan, Cierrah, Reilly, Soren, Cailyn, and Brock Batwinski; and his sister, Genevieve Schrammeck of Kalispell, MT.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, “Grizzly Bob” Batwinski of Grizzly Bob’s Bait & Tackle; his brothers, Tony and Stanley Batwinski; and his sister, Gladys Murphy.

Service Info

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, January 17, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at St. Elizabeth Catholic Church, 4816 7th Avenue. Interment with full military honors will follow in St. Casimir Cemetery where he will be laid to rest next to his parents.