Donald "Don" R. Potter 1929 - 2017

POTTER, HARRIS, MCGUIRE, HOAG

Posted By: Connie Swearingen -Volunteer (email)
Date: 10/18/2017 at 23:18:20

Sioux City Journal
14 August 2017

Vermillion, S.D.

Donald "Don" R. Potter, 88, formerly of Vermillion, passed away Saturday, Aug. 12, 2017, in Sioux City.

A celebration of his life will be 4 p.m. Wednesday at United Church of Christ in Vermillion. A private family burial will precede the service in Bluff View Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Kober Funeral Home of Vermillion. Condolences may be posted online to www.koberfuneralhome.com.

Donald Ray Potter was born Feb. 24, 1929, in Emmetsburg, Iowa, to Loren Ray and Lila Dell Harris Potter. He grew up in Schaller and graduated from high school in Algona, Iowa. There he participated in sports and band. Don continued his education at the University of Northern Iowa, then Iowa State Teachers College. His interests were playing in a dance band, playing trumpet and being a soloist. He was part of the barbershop quartet “The Gay Blades.” He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in education. He taught in Rutland and Odebolt, Iowa.

His higher education continued at Iowa State University, where he received a master’s in school psychology. He was a school psychologist for Hancock, Winnebago and Kossuth counties, before returning to the University of Iowa and subsequently received his doctorate from the University of South Dakota (USD). He was professor of special education and division chair in the School of Education at USD, retiring in 1994, having devoted 30 years to future educators. He was admired and touched the lives of hundreds of students, and all who knew him.

Don and Doris McGuire were married May 22, 1949, in Algona, Iowa. Three daughters were born to this union, Cynthia Ann, Catherine Ann and Julia Ann. Doris passed away Feb. 1, 2003. In April 2005, he and Constance "Connie" L. Hoag were united in marriage at Vermillion. Don and Connie traveled to Iceland, England, Ireland, Scotland and many cites in the United States. Their final trip was to Maui in January 2017.

Family members who mourn his passing include his wife, Connie; his daughters, Cynthia Fejfar Higgins (Ronald) and Cathy Hayes. Don has six grandchildren, Danielle Hoeme (Larry), Brittany Coffer (Jimmy) and Tate Stewart (Brad), Kelly Minette Fitzmaurice (Brian), Kristopher Minette and Elizabeth Hayes. His 13 great-grandchildren are Mimi, Sutton, Luke and Hays Hoeme, Delaney and Evie Coffer, Conner, Clare and Cooper Fitzmaurice, Brandon, Izzy and Kamila Minette, and soon to be born, Marlowe James Stewart, as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Doris; his youngest daughter, Julie; his brother, James "Jim"; and two sisters, Kay Creel and Ruth Ann McDonough.

The Potter family wishes to thank Siouxland Hospice and especially his nurse, Pam. His heart held much love for friends, old and new, but his greatest love was for his family.