Ryan James Batchelder

Ryan James Batchelder, a proud Navy Sailor, passed away on August 4, 2025, at Stanford Hospital, California, of a short but serious illness.

Funeral Service will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, August 25, 2025, at Helms Funeral Homes, 306 E. Water Street, Decorah, IA 52101, with Pastor Susan Debner presiding. Burial will be at the Minnesota Veterans' Cemetery in Preston, MN, with military escort.

Visitation will be from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, August 24, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E. Water Street in Decorah, Iowa. Visitation will also be from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service on Monday at the Funeral Home.

A Nevada service will be held at Naval Air Station Fallon in early September.

The son of Deb and Jon grew up on the family farm in Decorah, IA. He was born April 6, 1986, in Cedar Rapids, IA and graduated from Decorah High School with the class of 2004. Ryan also received a degree from Northeast Iowa Community College.

At the age of 27, Ryan enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a Mass Communication Specialist. Ryan valued this service highly and attained the rank of First Class. As part of this service, he served aboard the USS Peleliu, he deployed with the John C Stennis Strike Group aboard the USS Mobile Bay and supported the Pacific Northwest Region to include Navy Fleet Weeks in Portland, Oregon, and Seattle, Washington.  In October 2020, he reported to the media department on the USS John C. Stennis where he facilitated numerous command publications across multiple mediums.  His most current assignment beginning in December of 2024 was to Naval Air Station Fallon.  He was the Assistant Public Affairs officer.

MC1 Batchelder’s awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement medal (4 awards), Flag Letter of Commendation (2 awards), Good Conduct Medal ( 3 awards), National Defense Service Medal, and Global War on Terrorism Service Medal.

Ryan is survived by his parents, Deb and Jon. Also surviving are his maternal grandmother, Janet Berens and her special friend, Ronnie Easton as well as his surviving Aunt, Kathy (Chris) Bell. Also surviving are Ryan's uncles, Ted (Julie), Philip, and Mark (Delores) Batchelder as well as many cousins. Ryan’s French Bulldog, Willow, will miss her master and will join her Decorah family.   Ryan is also survived by many friends, some considered as close as siblings. Special recognition is granted to lifelong friend, Ross Thornton.

Preceding Ryan in death is his maternal grandfather, Blair Berens, as well as paternal grandparents, Everett and Doris Batchelder. Polly and Hollis, his special dogs, were forever held in his heart.

Ryan's loved ones will remember his quick wit, his infectious smile, his love of dogs, and his willingness to help young Sailors in their path of dedicated service.