Obit: Potter, Evelyn Johanna (1927 - 2016)

Transcriber: Robert Lipprandt
bob@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Corey, Curtis, Dionne, Ethridge, Gutsch, Lockwood, Martin, Petska, Potter, Spalla, Stender, Westphal, Williams

----Source: The Star News (Medford, WI) 9/20/2016

Potter, Evelyn Johanna (Martin) (19 FEB 1927 - 13 SEP 2016)

Evelyn Johanna Potter, 89, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, Sept. 13, 2016 at the Cornell Care Center where she was a resident for the past two years.

She was born on Feb. 19, 1927 in Eastman, the daughter of the late Rhodelle and Laura (Spalla) Martin.

The family moved to Donald when she was very young. Evelyn spent a short time in Chicago but then moved back to the Donald area and married Russell Potter on Jan. 17, 1948. She was a farm wife and loving mother to her 15 children and all other children in her presence.

Evelyn will be remembered for her sincere smile, quick laugh and the love she had for everyone. She spent countless hours on her beautiful yard and flower garden weeding and mowing lawn. In her later years she worked for Stepping Stones Shelter in Medford and drove the bus to deliver the elderly to eat, play cards and of course keep the flower beds weed free at the Gilman Senior Center. She also enjoyed the library, reading, being a mentor at the Gilman School, sewing, the Garden Club, her grandchildren and having family at her home.

She is survived by fourteen children, Dennis (Pat Stender) Potter of Gilman, Max (Judy Williams) Potter of Gilman, Alan (Betty) Potter of Kingston, Ill., Dale (Veronica Ethridge) Potter of Jacksonville, Fla., Penny Dionne of Mollalla, Ore., Wayne (Karen) Potter of Big Foot, Tex., Judy Gutsch of Madison, Kay (Glen) Lockwood of Rainier, Ore., Gail (Tim) Marshall of Holcombe, Bonny (John) Redican of Rockford, Ill., Ross Potter of Belvidere, Ill, Neal (Lynnie Corey) Potter of Muskego, Lynn (Will Sr.) Petska of Lena and Kim (James) Curtis of Gilman; 24 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; three great-great-grandchildren and two brothers, Francis Martin of Gilman and Paul Martin of Cal.

Evelyn is preceded in death by her eldest son, Gerald Potter; granddaughter, April; sister, Viola Westphal; brother, Ed Martin and a son-in-law, Frank Dionne.

A celebration of life will be held on Saturday, Sept. 24 at the Donald Town Hall at 11 a.m.

Interment will take place later at the Donald Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer memorials of your choice.

The family would like to give special thanks to the Cornell Area Care Center and St. Joseph’s Hospice of Chippewa Falls for their extraordinary care and compassion. We take comfort that Mom is at peace and Heaven is now just a little bit sweeter.