Cleo A. Pottorff 1927-2011

POTTORFF, RIEMENSCHNEIDER, KUDRLE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 2/7/2013 at 11:32:56

Sioux City Journal
6 October 2011

SIOUX CITY -- Cleo A. Pottorff, 84, of Sioux City died Wednesday, Oct. 4, 2011, at a Sioux Falls, S.D., hospital.

A celebration of life service will be 3 p.m. Friday at St. James United Methodist Church. The Rev. Ryan Christiansen and Rev. Alexis Williams will officiate. Visitation will be 4 to 8 p.m. today, with the family present 6 to 8 p.m. and a Masonic service at 7 p.m., at Morningside Chapel, Christy-Smith Funeral Home.

Cleo was born Jan. 29, 1927, in Mt. Ayr, Iowa, the son of Clarence and Leona A. (Riemenschneider) Pottorff. He came to Sioux City at the age of 15.

On May 27,1947, he married Donna R. Kudrle in Sioux City. He joined the U.S. Navy in August 1944 and served during World War II and Korean War. Cleo was a Realtor in Sioux City for 47 years, owning his own agency.

He was a longtime member of St. James United Methodist Church. He was a member of the Landmark Masonic Lodge 103, Sioux City Consistory, a past president of Abu Bekr Shrine Sahib and past president of the Sioux City Jaycees and was chosen as Iowa's outstanding president. He was also a member of the Sioux City Elks, American Legion Post 697, and the Sioux City Chapter of the Disabled American Veterans. He was a past president of Greater Siouxland Board of Realtors, and was named as Iowa Realtor Emeritus, served a Chamber of Commerce Ambassador, past president of the Breakfast Sertoma Club. He received a letter of commendation while in the Naval Reserve and received several awards from the Jaycees and the Sertoma Club. After he retired, he enjoyed volunteering at the Sgt. Floyd Welcome Center and the Sioux City Museum. He also loved to travel and had visited all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Guam, 35 countries and six continents. He was known for his service to the Siouxland community, but what he loved most was spending time with his wife, children and grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Donna of Sioux City; a son and his wife, Cleo Jr. and Diane of Sergeant Bluff; daughter and her husband, Darla Dee and Ragnar Ausland of Horsehead, N.Y.; grandchildren, Cinda Rathbun of Horsehead, Tate Pottorff and his special friend, Brandie Halterman of Sergeant Bluff, Troy Pottorff of Sioux City; great-grandchildren, Tyler Rathbun, Abbey Halterman; two brothers, Paul of Union Star, Mo., Marvin and Gwen of Golden, Mo.; a sister and her husband, Margaret and Willaim Midkiff of Oroville, Calif.; two sisters-in-law, Joyce Pottorff of Jacksonville, N.C., and Jacolene Baird of Canada; brother-in-law, Raymond Brown of Fort Worth, Texas.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Keith and Orveal; and his sister, Luella.