Donald James Batenhorst, 69 of West Point, died June 7, 2006 at St. Francis Memorial Hospital in West Point. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 am. Saturday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Beemer with Reverend Tim Padroza as celebrant. Public wake services will be 7:30 pm. Friday at Holy Cross Catholic Church in Beemer. Burial will be at the Church Cemetery with military honors graveside. Visitation will be Friday 9:00 am. until noon at Stokely Funeral Home in West Point and from 3:00 pm. until 8:00 pm. at the Church in Beemer. Memorials may be made to St. Joseph’s Retirement Community. Don was born January 14, 1937 at West Point to Alfred, Sr. and Helen Vogeltanz Batenhorst. He is a 1955 graduate of Guardian Angels Catholic School in West Point. He served in the US Army from November 16, 1956 until November 14, 1958. Don worked for Louis Dinklage before moving to California where he sold magazines door to door and worked as a vendor in the Los Angeles Dodgers Stadium. In 1966, Don joined the Merchant Marines, where he worked for 35 years. After suffering a stroke after heart surgery, he returned to Beemer. He eventually made his home at St. Joseph’s Retirement Community. Don sailed the seas and loved his job. His favorite place to travel was the South Pole. He had a devotion to Mother Theresa and had the opportunity to shake her hand. Survivors include a sister, Mary (Norbert) Harms of Howells, brothers Alfred, Jr. (Georgia) of Beemer and Duane (Mary) of La Crescenta, California, 34 nieces and nephews.