Denis Leon Schrank, age 85, of Batesville, Indiana, passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by family on September 6th, 2026.
Denis is survived by his wife, Patricia Schrank; son Tim (Tessa) Schrank of Batesville; daughters Tina Schrank of Batesville, Lisa (Michael) Nolan of Hondo, Texas, Cindy (Mike) Gerstbauer of Batesville, and Karen (Jason) Berty of Indianapolis.
Denis is survived by 15 grandchildren: John, Rachel, Monica, Regina, Jeff, Keagan, Torin, Trent, Jessica, Brittany, Malia, Halle, Carlie, Oella, & Anna and 10 great-grandchildren: Candace, Colette, Zadiin, Zel, Zarek, Anthony, Ben, Lily, Kleya, Collin. (Collin, the 10th great-grandchild, was born 5 hours before Denis passed away.)
Denis is survived by his brother, Tom (Mary Ann) Schrank of Batesville; sister Anita (John) Brelage of Batesville; and many nieces and nephews.
Denis was preceded in death by his parents, Henry and Frances (nee Meyer) Schrank, brother Henry Schrank, and sister-in-law Charlene Schrank.
On September 1, 1962, he married his beloved wife, Patricia (nee Niese), at St. Louis Catholic Church. Together they shared a deep faith, countless blessings, and 64 years of marriage. Following their wedding, they became lifelong members of Holy Family Catholic Church in Oldenburg, Indiana, where they rooted their lives in faith and community. Nothing made him happier than sitting down to Pat’s cooking, and he never, ever refused a dessert.
Denis was a farmer for 50+ years, raising cows, pigs, corn, and soybeans. He understood the value of hard work, the rhythm of the seasons, and the quiet joy of a job well done. He was a man known to all as the salt of the earth, leaving behind a legacy of faith, craftsmanship, and devotion to family. A man of simple yet profound wisdom, he often shared life lessons with signature catchphrases like “Different strokes for different folks” and “What they don’t all make!”
A lifetime member of the Pioneer Engineers Club of Indiana, he had a passion for antique tractors and was an avid collector and restorer. He could often be found in his garage, grease on his hands and a smile on his face, bringing old iron back to life. He spent many vacations dragging the family to tractor shows so that he could swap stories about “red iron” with others who also had “Antique Pox” like him. He loved using his gas engine to make Pat’s homemade ice cream recipe at church festivals, family parties, and the Freudenfest.
Denis & Pat loved sharing their knowledge with the community and took great joy in hosting the Schrank Farm 4th Grade Field Trip. Countless 4th graders (Pat estimated approximately 17,000 kids!) came to their farm over 30+ years. Some of Denis & Pat’s best friends came to help with the week-long event. Denis loved showing the children about colonial life, demonstrating how to use a crosscut saw, make a corn shock, or pretend to milk the imaginary cow named Nellie. He loved that the 4th graders got to take an old truck ride in his 1918 International truck around the pond and get their class picture taken in the barnyard in front of the steam engine. When he was hosting local fourth graders at his farm, he enjoyed teaching them that “safety never hurts”. Denis had a unique way of imparting values through humor and practical guidance.
A master metalworker, Denis possessed a clever, creative mind that saw potential in every scrap of metal. He expressed his love for Pat through his art, creating beautiful shrines for our Blessed Mother Mary. His devotion to his family lives on in the crosses he welded from bolts, screws, and angle iron for each of his grandchildren—a perfect symbol of his ability to take practical, discarded scraps and turn them into something sacred. He was a natural tinkerer who loved to make unique creations for his kids, and grandkids. They will always remember the “up-and-down bikes”, the “round-in-round”, and the 8 ft tall tricycle.
Some of his happiest moments were spent simply enjoying his land. He spent countless hours tending to the trails and building bridges out by the family cabin. He enjoyed going on family walks in the creek bed, always keeping a sharp eye out for unique treasures- especially rocks shaped like Indiana or stones with a hole through them. He looked forward to hunting mushrooms in the spring and picking persimmons in the fall. He was a man who felt truly at home in nature, and was most comfortable in his bib overalls.
In November of 1990, Denis wrote a guide for himself titled “Long Living List.” The list beautifully captured his essence, balancing spiritual pillars like “Be a good Christian” and “Love your wife and children” with his own unique, practical humor, including instructions to “Make notes,” and his personal favorite: “Avoid high pressure salesmen and salt.”
Denis will be remembered for the rumble of his antique tractors, his steady presence, consistent smile and his enduring love for those lucky enough to know him. As he often reminded those around him, he was “Denis—with one N”.
In his memory, his family asks that you keep a smile on your face, and to always remember to say your night prayers.
Visitation will be Monday, September 14th, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Weigel Funeral Home. A Rosary will be held at 3:30 p.m. and is open to the public. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on September 15th at 10 a.m., at Holy Family Catholic Church. Burial will immediately follow at Holy Family Cemetery.
Donations may be made out to Batesville Food Pantry, Sisters of St. Francis of Perpetual Adoration (Mishawaka, IN), or Holy Family Catholic Church. If unable to attend the visitation, memorials can be sent in c/o Weigel Funeral Home, PO Box 36, Batesville, Indiana 47006.
For online condolences please visit www.weigelfh.com.