Belle Bateman

Belle Faith Bateman and Reese RyleeRaeRose Bateman, infant identical twin daughters of Joe and Christina (Hartkopf) Bateman, went to be with Jesus on October 3, 2017.

Belle and Reese were able to enjoy many things in their short time here on this Earth including going to a concert at the Iowa State Fair, attending the homecoming parade and football game, watching the Hawkeyes nearly beat Penn State, and going to Vala's Pumpkin Patch. They loved it when their brother, Noah, would tickle them and loved hearing their mom sing "Jesus Loves Me" and "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star" to them.

We want people to know that just because they died so young in the womb, doesn't mean they were any less our children or any less loved. Belle and Reese were very much loved and wanted and always will be. They were created in the image of God just as we all are. Although it is incredibly hard for us to now have lost three daughters, we trust the Lord and we know that He brings good out of every situation. God already has, and will continue to bring good out of Belle and Reese's lives and deaths. Our hearts are broken and our lives will never be the same, but we can cry with hope knowing that this goodbye is not the end. We wait for the day when we will see you again in Heaven someday our sweet, precious little girls.

Belle and Reese leave behind their parents, Joe and Christina Bateman of Atlantic; their six brothers, Noah Bateman, Jace Bateman, Andy (Karen) Bateman, Max Bateman, all of Atlantic, Joey Bateman of Minneapolis, MN, and Sam (Katie) Bateman of Marshalltown, IA; grandparents, John and Linda Hartkopf of Atlantic and Sally Bateman of Great Bend, KS; great-grandmothers, Peg Robinson of Atlantic and Reba VanDerHart of Centennial, CO; aunts and uncles, Jessica Hartkopf of Chicago, IL, Brad Hartkopf of West Des Moines, IA, Jim (Susan) Bateman of Lawrence, KS, Kelley (Dave) Witmer of Lawrence, KS, and Karen (Scott) Reddig of Great Bend, KS; nieces and nephew, Cadence, Tidus, and Sharlett Bateman of Atlantic along with many cousins and other family members.

Belle and Reese join in Heaven their sister, Faith; grandfather, Charlie Bateman; great-grandfathers, Doc Hartkopf and John VanDerHart; great-grandparents, Rueben and Alma Peterson and Cecil and Bea Bateman; an uncle, Bill Bateman; and twin cousins, along with many other family members and friends.

Memorials may be made out to Faith's Friends, the 501(c)3 non-profit created in memory of Joe and Christina's oldest daughter. Faith's Friends pays for funerals and headstones of other families' babies and young children who have passed away.

Visitation will start at 10:15 a.m. with a funeral starting at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 14, 2017, at Hockenberry Funeral Home in Atlantic, Iowa.