By Staff
Douglas S. "Doug" Badtke, 45, of Amberly Lane, South Bend, Ind., died unexpectedly but of natural causes on Tuesday, Feb. 16, 2009, at his home.
Funeral services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 21, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church in Niles with the Rev. Janet Van Lear officiating.
The family will receive friends and relatives from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20 at the Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.
He was born on June 13, 1963, in Port Washington, Wis. to Donald and Janet L. (Gerner) Badtke.
The family moved to Niles in 1968 and Doug graduated from Niles High school.
He has lived in South Bend, Ind. since September 2008. He was employed by the Gurley-Leep Automotive Group for 17 years.
He earned his associate's degree from Southwestern Michigan College and attended Ferris State University.
He enjoyed playing darts and pool. He was a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Detroit Red Wings and University of Notre Dame football.
He is survived by his daughter, Haileigh Badtke; his mother, Jan L. Badtke of Niles; his fiancee, Tammy Anderson of South Bend, Ind.; her daughter, Brianna Taberski and an aunt and uncle, Carol and Lester Schultz of Cedar Grove, Wis.
He was preceded in death by his father, Donald Badtke, who died in June 2007 and a brother, James Thomas Badtke, who died Jan. 22, 2008.
Memorial contributions may be made to The Foundation of First Presbyterian Church in Niles, or to the "College America" scholarship fund for Haileigh, c/o Raymond James &Associates, 101 S. Fifth St., Suite 1900, Louisville, KY 40202.
Arrangements were by Halbritter Funeral Home, Niles.