Jacqueline Susan Batteiger

Jacqueline Susan (McClaskey) Batteiger's song of fifty years faded unexpectedly to silence on July 5th, 2023.

Jackie was born January 19th, 1973 to Pearl "Mac" McClaskey and Jerri Sue McClaskey in Gallipolis, Ohio. Her lifelong love of music and teaching spanned a career of more than 28 years, 21 of those in the Bexley City School District at Maryland Avenue Elementary.

She received her bachelor of music degree in Music Education from Heidelberg College in 1995 where she was also a member of the Euglossian "Eug" Society sorority. The bonds of sisterhood she forged there remained strong and she often spoke fondly of those times with sisters and other friends at Heidelberg. While she could play many, many instruments, her focus at Heidelberg was clarinet and cello.

Jackie then received her Master's of Music in Music Education with Kodaly Emphasis from Capital University in 2001. She remained committed to improvement of her own music education curriculum and knowledge of folk songs and dances she could teach children throughout her career, often attending Kodaly seminars and meetings as well as other summer courses and programs.

First teaching several long-term substitute positions, then going on to a full-time engagement with Columbus Public Schools, Jackie eventually found her professional home in Bexley City Schools at Maryland Elementary in 2002. She taught thousands of children over more than 20 years and always considered that to be her calling in life.

When not teaching, there was no greater love in her life than to be home enjoying time with her family. She loved stories – her favorites were science fiction and fantasy books, television, movies and video games. The sorting hat chose her as a Slytherin time and again. There was more than one Legend of Zelda t-shirt in her closet. The number of times she watched Frodo carry the ring to Mt. Doom were countless. Her family could fluently speak in Princess Bride quotes to each other. And if the Doctor and Donna ever showed up in the TARDIS, she'd step in for an adventure.

She will be deeply missed by her husband, David, daughters Elizabeth "Lee" and Isabella "Bella", mother Jerri McClaskey, father Pearl "Mac" McClaskey, sister Peggy (Kenny) Lambert, nephews Daniel McClaskey and Kenneth Lambert, many uncles, aunts and cousins and an entire family of teachers, administrators and students in the Bexley City School District.
"We can't always choose the music life plays for us, but we can choose how we dance to it." - Unknown

A celebration of life ceremony will be held on July 30th, 2023 at the Wells Barn of the Franklin Park Conservatory, 1777 E Broad St, Columbus, OH 43203. Visitation will be from 12-1pm with a memorial service from 1-2pm.