Barbara D. (Fitz) POTTER

FITZ, POTTER, NAIL, BILLINGS, STEENBLOCK, WALKER, REPPE, SHOAFSTALL

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/24/2009 at 10:40:47

January 21, 2009
Sioux City Journal, Iowa

SIOUX CITY -- Barbara D. Potter, 83, of Sioux City, formerly of Des Moines, passed away Friday, Jan. 16, 2009. Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Westover Funeral Home in Des Moines. Burial will be in Glendale Cemetery. Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service Saturday at the funeral home.

Barbara was born Dec. 16, 1925, in Rowan, Iowa, the daughter of Kenneth and Maude Fitz. She grew up and graduated from school in Clarion, Iowa. In 1944, she joined the U.S. Cadet Nurse Corps. In 1947, she began her career as a registered nurse upon graduation from the University of Iowa, with her diploma in nursing. She met her husband, Warren C. Potter, at a Veterans Hospital in 1947 and they were married in 1948. Warren passed away in 1980. After retiring from nursing in 1981, she turned her and Warren's hobby of collecting antiques into a business. She began selling antiques in shops across Iowa for nearly 20 years. She enjoyed a variety of activities that included traveling the world, fishing in Minnesota, bird watching, gardening, crocheting, knitting and writing jingles. In recent years, she was an avid reader and a crossword puzzle enthusiast. She was happiest when the family was together, reminiscing about old times and playing games.

Survivors include her children, Susan Nail (Bill Billings) of Dakota Dunes, S.D., Bruce Potter (Bonnie) of Waterloo, Iowa, and Debra Potter of Chicago, Ill.; a sister, Rhea (Rich) Steenblock of Belmond, Iowa; an aunt, Beth Walker of Columbia, S.C.; four grandchildren, Brian Nail (Crystal) of Sioux City, Jesse Potter (Melissa) of Omaha, Emily Reppe (Chris) of Waukee, Iowa, and Wayne Shoafstall (Jennifer) of Des Moines; three great-grandchildren and another one due in May; a niece; and two nephews. A memorial has been established in her name at Hospice of Siouxland, 4300 Hamilton Blvd., Sioux City, IA. 51104.