John  O. Bateman, "Jack" to his friends and acquaintances, 94, passed away on Sunday, January 19, 2020 at Hillcrest Home, Geneseo.  A funeral service will be 2:00pm on Thursday, January 30th at Wheelan-Pressly Funeral Home, 3030-7th Avenue, Rock Island with visitation one hour prior to services at the funeral home. Private burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery, Rock Island.  The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to Skills, Inc. The Arc, St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital and Riverbend Food Bank.

Jack was born to LeClaire and Bernice Bateman on November 23, 1925, the third of four boys.  After his mother passed away when he was fourteen years old, his father – then Captain of the W.J. Quinlan, a paddlewheel steamboat on the Mississippi River- took Jack to work before school and he swept and waxed the dance floor of the ship before going to school.  After school, he had a job setting pins at the old Bowladrome Bowling Allley in Rock Island.  He graduated from Rock Island High School in 1943 and that same year married the love of his life, Jeanne.  They had three children-daughter Beverly Jeanne (succumbed when a toddler), son William and daughter Chrystal- and were married for 40 years until Jeanne Bateman passed away in 1983.

In early 1944, Jack joined the Navy and served until the end of the World War II.  Most of his time was spent on the U.S.S. Laffey and the U.S.S. Rall and he participated in the battles of Iowa Jima, Okinawa and Guam.  After being honorably discharged from the Navy at the war's end, he returned to Rock Island and got a job at Iowa-Illinois Gas & Electric Co. where he would work for 43 years until his retirement in 1989.  In his retirement years, he was an avid collector of insulators, lightening rod balls, weather vanes and bottles and he traveled to trade shows across the county with daughter, Chrystal until time took its toll and the traveling was no longer possible.  Through these interests he met many people and made many friends whom he enjoyed greatly and with whom he stayed in touch.  In his mind, his most important contribution to the world was that he was the sole caregiver to daughter Chrystal from her mother's passing in 1983 until his own exit form this life.

He was a member of Memorial Heights Methodist Church until it was razed, believed in the 23rd Psalm and enjoyed the singing of Eddy Arnold, Perry Como and Tennessee Ernie Ford.  He was an active member of the Mason's since 1961.

The family wishes to acknowledge the care and kindness he received from Dr. Ahmed Okba (primary physician); Dr. Peter Fries (eyes); Dr. Kyle Kuhlman (ears); and Dr. Brian Ting (feet) and the myriad numbers of nurses and medical personnel who helped to smooth the way on his final journey, including the entire staff at Hillcrest Home.  Jack also enjoyed and appreciated the many friendships he made with the waitresses and customers alike whom he saw every morning for breakfast at Two Sisters and Skamper Inn.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Jeanne; daughter Beverly Jeanne; his maternal and paternal grandparents; his parents and his three brothers William (succumbed in infancy), Jim and Lee C. "Buddy" Bateman.

He is survived by daughter Chrystal (Rock Island) and son William (New York City).

He loved the city of Rock Island. Online condolences may be left for the family at wheelanpressly.com