Byron Edward Batteiger, M.D.

Byron Edward Batteiger, M.D., 68, of Bargersville, Indiana was called to his heavenly home on July 31, 2021, surrounded by his loving family. One of three children, Byron was born in Evansville, Indiana to Edward Batteiger and Vivian Holt (Ames). He graduated from F.J. Reitz High School in 1970, and then moved to Indianapolis, Indiana to attend Butler University, where he met Rosemary, his wife of nearly 45 years. Byron graduated from Butler University with a Bachelor of Science in 1974, and from the Indiana University School of Medicine with a Doctor of Medicine in 1977. He served the community for 42 years as a physician, specializing in infectious diseases, before retiring in 2019. Byron’s colleagues describe him as wise, brilliant, determined, and tirelessly dedicated to his work. Byron served as the Section Chief for Infectious Diseases Services at the Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center from 2009 to 2019, and the Interim Director of the Division of Infectious Disease with the Indiana University School of Medicine from October 2010 to July 2013. In addition to patient care, Byron was a Professor of Medicine and a Professor of Microbiology and Immunology, conducted research and authored numerous manuscripts, book chapters, grants, and magazine articles, was a gifted public speaker, served as a mentor, and taught hundreds of students, residents, and fellows over the years. Lifelong learning was not just a phrase for Byron; even in his retirement, he prioritized learning through reading books and articles in medical journals and reviewing grants. Byron was a Professor Emeritus of Medicine and a Professor Emeritus of Microbiology and Immunology with the Indiana University School of Medicine until his death. While we know with certainty that those who knew Byron personally were positively impacted by his presence in their lives, the impact on the patients he saw, and the lives he saved and improved, simply cannot be quantified.

Byron married the love of his life, Rosemary Ann Behnken, on August 21, 1976. Always wanting a large family, Byron and Rosemary raised five children, in whom they instilled faith and love of family, as well as a passion for learning. Byron’s children knew him as not only a loving father, but their biggest supporter and protector, encouraging them and pushing them to reach their potential while allowing them to be their own unique selves. Rosemary knew him as her greatest love, best friend, and the partner she wanted to build a life and a family with, and they shared a beautiful life together. Byron loved the outdoors, and enjoyed identifying birds, plants, and trees, a hobby he shared with his wife and could enjoy at their family home. The Batteiger Homestead was a dream for Byron and Rosemary, and working on the land with his old Ford tractor was a passion, not a chore, for him. Byron had considerable skill in troubleshooting finicky farm equipment and enjoyed caring for and maintaining the land he and Rosemary loved so dearly. Together with their family and friends, Byron and Rosemary planted thousands of trees on their property, and over the years it became their oasis.

Byron enjoyed playing the piano and some of his children’s fondest memories are of him playing the piano after they had gone to bed. His children will never hear Mozart’s Sonata 15 in C major, affectionately nicknamed the “Nighty Night Song,” without thinking of him: Byron used to play Sonata 15 before sending them to bed as children, while they jumped around singing “nighty nighty” as accompaniment. Even as adults, hearing Byron play the piano was heartwarming for his wife and children. Not only did his children love hearing him play, but his piano, a gift from Rosemary when they were a young married couple, served as a symbol of Byron and Rosemary’s love and devotion to one another.

Many of Byron’s friends know him for his passion for running, hiking, cycling, a good craft beer, his intelligence, and of course the sarcastic, clever wit he wielded so well. Byron’s droll sense of humor, wit, and intelligence made him a particularly enjoyable companion, and he could make his friends and family laugh with a well-timed raise of his eyebrows or one-liner. Byron discovered a love of running when he was in his early 40s, and eventually went on to compete in USATF Masters meets, running with the Indiana Invaders Masters Team and the Athletic Annex Running Club, among others. Byron ran innumerable road races, half marathons, and trail races, including the TransRockies Run, a three-day trail race through the mountains. A Tour de France enthusiast, Byron also enjoyed cycling, and competed in biathlons. Byron was an avid hiker and particularly loved adventuring in the mountains. He took every opportunity he could to go hiking, much to the enjoyment of his hiking buddies, and to the enjoyment, and occasional chagrin, of his family, who on more than one occasion simply could not keep up with him. On these hikes, Byron encountered wildlife, beautiful scenery, camaraderie, occasional altitude sickness, and a few missteps and lost paths. But all of these hikes, even those that went awry, were exactly what Byron loved: being outdoors, experiencing nature, and time with friends and family. Hiking and staying active were so important to Byron that he never gave it up, despite his diagnosis, and enjoyed walking with dear friends at Eagle Creek Park or Morgan Monroe State Forest weekly.

Byron fought hard against lung cancer for nearly six years, and his family members and friends will be forever grateful for his strength and the teams of medical professionals who cared for him so well. While his family and friends would argue that no amount of time with Byron could ever be enough, they will always hold dear the time they could spend loving him, learning from him, and of course, sharing a beer and interesting conversation with him. Byron is survived by his wife, Rosemary, who was his greatest partner in life; his five children, Sarah (husband, Josef), who shares his tenacity and focus, Teresa, who shares his passion for medicine, Jennifer, who shares his stubbornness and loyalty, Emily, who shares his sarcasm and a fraction of his wit, and Daniel, who shares his love of hiking and his desire to learn and understand as fully as possible; his four grandchildren Ethan, Gavin, Haley, and Hezekiah; and his two brothers Adrian of San Francisco, California, and Edward of Evansville, Indiana. Byron is preceded in death by his mother Vivian Holt, father Edward Batteiger, and stepfather James Holt.

A celebration of life will be held at Calvary Lutheran Church, 6111 Shelby St., Indianapolis, Indiana 46227, on Tuesday, August 10, 2021, at 5 p.m., with one hour of visitation prior to the service and after the service. The family requests that masks be worn to Byron’s service. Byron dedicated his life to the treatment and study of infectious diseases, and to training and mentoring the next generation of infectious disease specialists.  Please consider donating to the CDC Foundation, the IDSA Foundation, or the IU Simon Cancer Center (designate for lung cancer) in memory of Byron.