Iron River native Richard Battye remembered after unexpected death at 77

Richard A. Battye came back to Iron River after years away, closing a long circle that began in the town where he was born and raised. Battye, 77, died unexpectedly Saturday, May 2, 2026, leaving behind the story of a lifelong Iron River native whose final months were spent back home.

Born June 4, 1948, in Iron River to Edward and Angeline (Anesi) Battye, he attended Stambaugh Schools and graduated with the Class of 1966. That mattered in a community that changed quickly around him: Stambaugh Schools later became part of West Iron County Public Schools, consolidated in 1967 from Bates Township School, Iron River Public Schools and Stambaugh Township Schools. Battye’s life spanned that shift from separate local schools to a larger district, even as his own roots stayed fixed in Iron County.

After high school, Battye served in the U.S. Air Force from 1967 to 1971. He later built a career in Chicago as a product development manager for Fujifilm, but the obituary kept returning to the same portrait of him as a practical man, always busy and always working on something. He was known as Mr. Fix-it, the kind of person who stayed involved, took on projects and kept moving.

His interests were as active as his work. Battye enjoyed golfing, hunting, bowling, photography and spending time outdoors. In his younger years, he played baseball and softball, and he remained a follower of Auburn University sports. Those details, taken together, trace a man who liked competition, hands-on work and the steady routines of daily life.

Family was central to his story. He is survived by sons Brent Battye and Bryce Battye; daughter Melissa (Wilson) Mills; grandchildren Andrew and Katie Mills; brother Robert Battye; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his son Christopher Battye and brothers Dale, Gary and Gerald Battye.

Battye’s graveside service was set for Stambaugh Cemetery, where the West Side Veterans were to accord military rites. The burial place itself carries local history: the first burial there was in July 1904, and township information says the cemetery is now nearly full. For a man who returned to Iron River near the end of his life, that final resting place keeps him close to the community that shaped him.