Dona Jean Mitchell Potratz 1929-2013

MITCHELL, PETERSON, POTRATZ, ELGIN, KAUFMAN, SPOONER, WALBORN

Posted By: Gary Potratz (email)
Date: 2/7/2025 at 11:04:52

Dona Jean Mitchell Potratz, 84, of Waukee, formerly of Tama, passed away Sunday, December 29, 2013 at Village Legacy Pointe in Waukee under the care of Hospice of Central Iowa. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2014 at 11:00 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama with Pastor Thomas Dowling officiating. Interment will follow at Oak Hill Cemetery in Tama. Memorial Visitation will be held Saturday, January 4, 2014 from 10-11 AM at St. Paul Lutheran Church. Kruse-Phillips Funeral Home, Tama-Toledo is assisting the family with arrangements...

Dona was born on November 26, 1929 in Algona, Iowa, the daughter of Noble and Edna (Peterson) Mitchell. She attended Algona schools, graduating in 1947. Dona was employed in the offices of Rath Packing Company and John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo prior to her marriage. On August 28, 1949, she was united in marriage to Arthur (Mike) Potratz at the Lutheran Church in Whittemore, Iowa. Three children were born to this union, Gayle, Gary and Gina.

They lived in Stratford for three years, then Denison for twenty years where she worked as a bookkeeper-receptionist for radio KDSN. They were residents of Tama for forty years and she was employed at the Tama Clinic, the Family Health Center in Toledo, and Willett & Rathjen Law Office in Tama. She enjoyed proofing “The Country Register” for many years.

Dona kept a daily diary for 70 + years and had many hobbies including Bridge, needlework, quilting, and crafts.

Dona was a member of St. Paul Lutheran Church in Tama, Tama Civic Women and the Tama-Toledo Country Club.

Survivors include her husband of sixty-four years, Mike, of Waukee; her children, Gayle (Dave) Elgin of West Des Moines, Gary (Brenda) Potratz of Lincoln, NE, and Gina (Wes) Kaufman of Robins; seven grandchildren, Aaron, Adam and Andrew Potratz, Jennifer and Susan Elgin, Sarah (Austin) Spooner and Natalie Kaufman; and one brother, Willis L. (Arlan) Mitchell of Lancaster, CA.
Preceding her in death were her parents; two brothers, Willard L. Mitchell and Carol W. Mitchell; and one sister, Marjorie E. Walborn.