Henry Steve Bateman

Henry "Steve" Bateman passed away peacefully on Monday, March 22 at 1:03 pm at Our Lady of the Lake Hospital in Baton Rouge surrounded by family and loved ones after a brief battle with pneumonia. Steve was a native and lifelong resident of St. Amant, Louisiana. He was born on September 12, 1944 and was a graduate of St. Amant High School and Southeastern Louisiana University with a degree in Business Administration. He was owner and operator of Dave's Hardware, later renamed Dave's Equipment, in Denham Springs, LA since 1966. Steve was a man of great intellect who had a sharp mind for business. He was both frugal and practical, and according to his son and business partner, no one could "cook the books" like Steve. He had the distinction of being the only business in downtown Denham Springs to survive the economic collapse in the early 80's due to the decline in the oil market. He was semi-retired and still active in the business two days a week. Steve had a very strong Christian faith and belief in God. He valued his family and his country along with our God given freedoms that had allowed him to become successful after very humble beginnings. He was an old school patriot and was a faithful listener of the Rush Limbaugh talk radio program every week day. He was a deep thinker who was up for a conversation on just about any topic, but he especially loved modern and World War II history, politics, and any topic of conversation related to cars and engines. He had a great sense of humor, and he loved nothing more than sitting around telling stories with his family and friends. He was well known for coming up with creative catch phrases and nicknames that stuck for years to name people, events, and vehicles. His passion for fast cars was fulfilled in his red Mustang GT that he and his son rebuilt and restored which he loved driving around just for fun. His children and grandchildren fondly remember him telling stories about drag racing his friends up and down Airline Highway and on the back roads in St. Amant when he was in high school. He also enjoyed playing football in high school and loved telling his children and grandchildren stories about his time on the defensive line as "Backbreaker Bateman" when he relayed stories about his most memorable games. He enjoyed watching a good football game along with watching his grandsons play football in middle school and high school. Steve could build or fix just about anything. He designed and built his own home in the early 70's over the course of three years by working on it after work and on the weekends. He was very proud of his home, and he enjoyed spending hours on his riding lawnmower keeping it perfectly manicured at any given time. He also painstakingly restored his home after the flood of 2016 at the age of seventy-two over the course of the following year. Steve was a commanding presence, and his advice and opinions were often sought out by friends and family. He was always happy to give his thoughts on any matter, although he would not judge if the advice seeker chose not to take his advice. He had a very kind and generous heart, and he would do anything that he could to help his friends and loved ones who were in need. He adored his longtime companion of nineteen years, Jan Coppock, and immensely enjoyed spending time with her, doing projects or simply sitting on her back porch swing watching the boats go up and down the Diversion canal. During his two-year battle with lymphoma, he prided himself on being a model patient while doing inpatient chemotherapy treatments, and he enjoyed putting a smile on the face of every staff member who entered his room. His family would like to give a special thanks to the staff on the oncology floor and the surgical intensive care unit at Our Lady of the Lake for the amazing and compassionate care that they provided for him. We will remember Steve as a very strong, independent, and resilient man. He battled his cancer and a debilitating neurological disease that preceded his cancer diagnosis with a tenacity and determination that was inspirational to all who knew him. He was not afraid to take chances if that's what he deemed necessary in order to have a chance at continuing to live. Steve was taken too fast, too soon, and he will be missed by all. He will leave a permanent void in the lives of those who loved him that will be impossible to fill. Steve is survived by his children, Lisa McAlister (Herman), Sue Lyn Simpson (Craig) and Steven Bateman; longtime partner, Jan Coppock; his 9 grandchildren, Andrew (Emily), Claire, Neil, and Alden McAlister, Connor, Camryn and Colin Boldt, Cadence Bateman, and great grandchild Amelia Grace McAlister, due to be born in August. He is preceded in death by his parents, Alfred Bateman of St. Amant and Ruth Lauzervich Bateman of Maurepas and grandchild Vivian McAlister. Visiting will be at Ourso Funeral Home, Gonzales, Louisiana from 8-10am, Saturday, March 27, 2021 followed by a memorial service at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in St. Amant, Louisiana at 11am, conducted by Fr. Joseph Vu. Interment at New River Cemetery, St. Amant, LA.