Charles Wheaton Battey Jr.

Chuck Battey loved life. His infectious enthusiasm filled the room. People felt better after they met him. With his passing on April 29, 2025, at age 93, the world is a bit less joyful… and a bit quieter.

Charles Wheaton Battey, Jr. was born February 17, 1932, in Lincoln, Nebraska. Chuck inherited his warmth and Midwestern sensibility from his mother, Freda, and a passion for sports and business from his father, Wheaton.

A proud graduate of Lincoln High School and the University of Nebraska, Chuck excelled at school and sports. He holds the distinction of being the only graduate of Lincoln High School to have been inducted into its “Hall of Fame” for both sports and civic work. He was starting guard on the #1 ranked high school basketball team in the state of Nebraska. He played varsity golf in high school and college. A proud member of Phi Delta Theta, Chuck served as President of his fraternity at Nebraska.

Chuck was an exceptional golfer. He qualified for the 1950 U.S. Amateur. He maintained a life-long passion for golf, continuing to compete in club tournaments in his 70s and traveling the world as a golf tourist in his late 80s. Beginning at age 77, he achieved the “holy grail” of golf by shooting his age numerous times.

After graduating from college, Chuck took his first job as a loan officer at Continental Illinois Bank in Chicago. Soon, he met Joan Westmen on a blind date. A native of New York, Joan also had recently arrived in Chicago to pursue a career at Leo Burnett advertising agency. Overcoming her initial concern that Chuck was “too loud,” Joan agreed to marry him on September 14, 1957. She never could tame his boisterous ways, but they did enjoy a 66-year marriage full of fun and adventure that lasted until her death in January 2024.

Joan refined and (when necessary) restrained Chuck as few others could. They were true partners in a variety of civic and professional endeavors.

Chuck's professional career had many highs… and a few lows. An early life lesson was gained when he was fired as a night watchman at the Nebraska State Fair for sneaking out with friends for a beer. At Continental Illinois Bank, Chuck's early banking career included transporting a $63 million check ($622 million in today's dollars) for Jeno Paulucci, owner of Chun King foods.

Banking took Chuck from the bayous of Louisiana to the plains of North Dakota and ended with a corner office at Commerce Bank in downtown Kansas City -- complete with fireplace and private bathroom… and, ultimately, a pink slip.

Chuck’s next professional stop was United Telecommunications, transitioning (as rebranded Sprint) from the regulated phone industry to the brutally competitive cell phone industry of today. After 15 years in the telephone industry, Chuck’s career ended in the energy business (KN Energy, later absorbed into Kinder Morgan), leading to new business challenges that included a coal mine explosion and rebuffing a T. Boone Pickens hostile takeover attempt.

As successful as he was in business, Chuck’s true passion was serving the city he loved. He served on numerous civic boards, including chairmanships of KCPT, United Way, Starlight Theatre, Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Kansas City Crime Commission, Kansas City Sports Commission, Midwest Research Institute, the Kansas City Country Club, Harry S. Truman Good Neighbor Association and Hall Center for the Humanities at KU. He was a tireless fundraiser for these and other charities.

Infected with what his beloved sister Marian described as AIMS Disease (“Afraid I’ll Miss Something”), Chuck and Joan applied their energy to a life of travel and family in their retirement years. Not satisfied with relaxing on their back patio with their dogs (most recently Bailey), they visited 86 countries, traveling internationally into their 90s -- including trips to North Korea, Cambodia, Easter Island and other unusual destinations. They had a particular passion for bicycling, cycling on 15 trips through diverse locations in Europe, Asia and North America.

Usually with his son David and others in tow, Chuck continued to feed his passion for golf by traveling to some of the world’s greatest golf locations -- in North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. By David’s count, Chuck played 91 of the world’s Top 100 rated golf courses. All of us golfers were most envious of the 77 rounds of golf he played over two decades at Augusta National.

Chuck was a lifelong, avid sports fan. He loved cheering for the Chiefs, Royals, Cornhuskers and Tom Watson. He attended six Super Bowls, three World Series (including two Game 7s) and five Masters Tournaments.

Travel also meant shared experiences with children and grandchildren. Chuck and Joan established a great tradition of bonding with each of their grandkids on a trip celebrating the child’s 13th birthday. They showed tremendous energy and patience as they traveled to locations matched to a young teenager’s interests. A favorite family photo is Chuck (displaying an expression that mixed elation and terror) zip-lining down Las Vegas’ Fremont Street at age 84 with his twin grandsons.

Chuck is preceded in death by Joan, his wife of 66 years, his parents, Freda and Wheaton Battey, and sister Marian Battey Andersen. He is mourned by his three children, Chuck III (Marilyn), David and Susan Fraser (John); and six grandchildren, Lindsay, Robbie and Molly Fraser and Sean, Kyle and Willa Battey.

The family is planning a private interment. In lieu of flowers, Chuck requested that donations be made to Youth Volunteer Corps (c/o David Battey, 1025 Jefferson St., Kansas City, MO 64105 or at yvc.org/giving).

We close with one of Chuck’s favorite expressions: “Appreciate America!” -- recognizing all that he was given and gave during a life well-lived.