Carlyle 'Casey' Batha, 73

It is with a heavy heart that we announce that Carlyle "Casey" Batha passed away Sept. 9, 2023, at Kootenai Health. Casey received exceptional care from all of the staff at Kootenai Health while he was there. He was born to Frank and Clarice Batha on Feb. 1, 1950, in New York. Casey's younger years were spent traveling with his family due to his father's Coast Guard career. Summers were spent at his grandparents' home in Illinois and West Virginia.

Casey enlisted in the United States Marine Corps at the age of 17. He didn't go to Vietnam until he turned 18, which he jokingly referred to as, "his High School Senior trip." Casey received numerous medals, including a Purple Heart during his time in the United States Marine Corps.

After the Marines, he attended college and worked at JFK in New York and General Motors in St. Louis.

Casey met the love of his life, Tina Sandberg, in 1978. He became a Conservation Police Officer for the State of Illinois in 1980 and, in 1981, Casey and Tina were married.

Together, they built their own log home on their farm in Southern Illinois. There, they raised their three children Virginia, Cari and Casey, instilling in them the love of God, family, friends, hard work, nature and caring for others. The family would take trips to New York City during Christmas to visit friends, while summers were spent in the Pacific Northwest. It was during one of these trips that they decided they wanted to move to Coeur d'Alene.

Casey and Tina raised bloodhounds for years. He used them frequently for other departments and subsequently received numerous awards for his work with them. They and their bloodhounds were even in the movie, "U.S. Marshals." Casey's career as a police officer, as well as a Marine, was something he was proud of and it showed. He was tenacious in everything he did. His love of barbecue was one of his favorite pastimes. During deer seasons and throughout the year, he would smoke whole pork shoulders for friends and neighbors. He also loved woodworking and making walking sticks for people from the trees on their farm. There was never a stranger or anyone who would come to our home that he wasn't offering food or drinks to.

Casey had many other passions in his life, including motorcycles, hunting, guns, guitars and looking out for others. Always willing to help others, he once gave the coat he was wearing to a stranger. Casey was a life member of the Pappy Boyington Detachment No. 966 of the Marine Corps League and a Masonic member for 33 years at the Masonic Lodge No. 2, in Equality, Ill.

He was always ready to discuss the Bible and his faith with others, and even when he knew his life was coming to an end, he was always thinking of others. One of his greatest memories was when he and his family were baptized together. Casey will be greatly missed by many friends and family, but his "Larger than life" memories will live on in all of us.

He is survived by his loving wife, Tina, children Virginia (Jason) Grob, Caroline (Justin) Grob and Madison Casey Batha and granddaughter Hailey Grob. His brother, Frank (Lee Ann) Batha and sister, Valorie (Bud) Gansmann.

Services will be Nov. 8, 2023, at noon at the Coeur d'Alene Seventh-day Adventist Church on Locust Avenue in Coeur d'Alene. Military Honors follow at 1:30 p.m. at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens Cemetery on North Government Way in Coeur d'Alene. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in his honor to the Cd'A Seventh-day Adventist Church, Toys for Tots of North Idaho or the Gold Star Memorial at Coeur d'Alene Memorial Gardens Cemetery. Please contact the family for information.