Joseph J. Batura Jr.

LEEDS – Joseph J. Batura Jr., 79, passed away peacefully on Thursday, July 10, 2025, at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, surrounded by his loving family. Joe was born at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, a son of the late Joseph and Blanche (Gromelski) Batura. Joe grew up in Haydenville, attending local schools and graduating from St. Michaels High School in 1963. He worked alongside his parents and extended family in Batura’s store in Haydenville until his father’s death in 1962.
From childhood to young adulthood, he was a member of St. Mary’s Parish in Haydenville, growing up two doors down from the church. It was in that church that he received his 1st Communion and Confirmation alongside his fellow altar servers and “Co-Conspirators”, Peter Kostek and Jackie Riley. With strict instructions from his mother Blanche, he also served as an “On-call” altar server for funerals and answered the office phone when the priest was called away from the rectory to fulfill his duties to the parish community. From 1959 to 1964, he played trumpet in the Commanders Drum and Bugle Corp alongside his sister Jean and lifelong friends, Peter Kostek and Jackie Riley.
The year 1967 was a seminal year for Joe, receiving his Associate’s degree in mechanical engineering from the Wentworth Institute of Technology, marrying his beloved wife of 58 years, Barbara (Johnson) Batura and celebrating the birth of his first child (and always #1), Joseph Batura III. He began a long career with Monsanto in Indian Orchard that same year and continued his career there when it became Solutia, eventually retiring as a supervisor in 2002. In 1972, after the birth of their second (and Joe’s favorite) child Lisa, Joe and Barbara settled in Leeds in the house that would be his home for the remainder of his life. Along with a continuous list of home improvements provided by Barbara, Joe enjoyed woodworking and much of the furniture throughout the home are products of his skilled handiwork.
Throughout the years, Joe worked hard and alongside Barbara, raised his children which included attending sporting events and school activities. For many years, Joe was the pillar of the Batura clan and always made sure he was available for extended family members.
Never one to sit still, Joe was a member of the 10th Mass. Infantry regiment participating in a civil war era uniform in many parades and services with the regiment honoring Veterans. Joe always believed in the importance of civic duty and served as the clerk at the voting polls in Ward 7B for many years.
After his retirement, Joe worked as a Look Park Ranger interacting with patrons and taking care of the animals at the zoo. When not at the park or golf course, Joe and Barbara enjoyed vacationing in Kennebunkport and points north in Maine with their dogs.
In 1992, Joe joined the Northampton Country Club, continuing a long line of golfers in the Batura family. He enjoyed many years there as a member, participating in various leagues and tournaments at the club as well as many road trips and vacations to other golf locales. Joe met many friends including his early-bird golfers, Ed Shaughnessy, Paul Didonna, Dave Shaw, Phil Civello and many others while they often waited for the sun to rise over the first tee to begin their round. The welcoming feel and camaraderie of the club members was always special to him, and he spent many leisure hours at the course and 19th hole.
In his later years, he reconnected with his faith and attended weekly mass at Our Lady of the Hills Parish in Haydenville. In addition to mass, he participated in various church kitchen functions and also assisted in delivering meals to people in the Haydenville and surrounding communities through the Take and Eat program.
Joe was a good-natured and amicable guy who was always ready with a welcoming greeting as well as some light-hearted banter which made him liked by many. He also knew the importance of listening and many people sought him out for his sage advice.
As a married couple, Joe provided stability and support to Barbara as well as time-management skills (although that process was never completed) and Barbara taught Joe how to relax and not be so schedule dependent. Their differing viewpoints complimented each other and lent itself to a long and loving partnership.
Although his patience was tested by his children many times, Joe was a loving father who always supported them in their many endeavors and instilled in them the importance of family as well as good values to lead a responsible life.
Although he will be greatly missed, his family and friends will continue to be thankful for the time they had with him, and he will be remembered by everyone as an “all-around good guy”.
He leaves his beloved wife of 58 years, Barbara (Johnson) Batura of Leeds. His children, Joseph Batura III of Buckeye, AZ and Lisa Batura of Leeds and his four-legged kids, Ziggy & Louie (who were his real favorite children). He also leaves his sister-in-law Marjorie Candiano, His sister, Jean Mazur, niece Christina Bassett and husband Joe, niece Betsy Worden and husband Carl and their children, Emily & Jillian, nephew Michael Mazur and wife Tracy, niece Judy Breault and husband Greg, niece Tammie Martin and husband Jimmy, nephew Bryon Johnson as well as his cousins John Batura, Michael Batura, Kathy Quelland and wife Liz O’Malley. He was predeceased by his brother Peter Batura, nephew Peter Batura Jr. and grandniece Nina Colasanto .
The family will receive friends at Ahearn Funeral Home, 783 Bridge Rd., Northampton on Thursday, July 17, 2025, from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. The family invites you to join them on Friday, July 18, directly at Our Lady of the Hills Church to celebrate a Liturgy of Christian Burial for Joe at 10:00 A.M. Burial will follow in St. Mary’s Cemetery, Leeds. In lieu of flowers, donations in his memory may be made to Our Lady of the Hills Church Take & Eat Program, 173 Main St., Haydenville, MA. or TJ O’Connor Animal Hospital, 627 Cottage St, Springfield, MA 01104