NASHUA -- Evelyn Mae Potratz, 73, Nashua, died Friday, April 20, 2001 at Mercy Hospital of Franciscan Sisters in Oelwein.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, April 24 at St. John Lutheran Church, Nashua, with Pastors David and Joann Kramer presiding. Mary Jo Stille was organist and Amy McDonough and Janice Edson were vocalists.

Interment was in Oak Hill Cemetery, Nashua.

Evelyn was born on a farm near Hawkeye on March 22, 1928, the daughter of Peter and Ida (Engel) Staack. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, Hawkeye, in May 1928 and confirmed at St. John Lutheran Church, Fairbank, in 1941. She attended rural Hawkeye grade school and Oran High School. Evelyn was united in marriage with Milton W. Potratz at St. John Lutheran Church in Fairbank on April 8, 1945. They farmed for 21 years at Maynard and four years at Decorah, moving to Nashua in 1970. Evelyn worked in the Oelwein, Waverly and Phoenix, AZ hospitals before retiring in 1985. She enjoyed Bible Study, Circle meetings, evangelism work and visiting the sick and shut-ins. She also enjoyed crafts and quilting.

Surviving are her children, Judy (Chuck) Smith, Oelwein, Mary (Jay) Adkins, Willow Wood, OH, Mark (Bonnie) Potratz and Kevin (Diane) Potratz, Nashua; eight grandchildren; one stepgrand-cnild; eight great-grandchildren; one brother, Laverne Staack, Oran; two sisters, Joanne Heineman, Oran and Helen Cummings, Santa Barbara, CA.

Preceding her in death were her husband, Milton on June 6, 1999; her parents; one sister, Arlene Roete.

Chenoweth & Son Funeral Home, Nashua, was in charge of arrangements.

Source: New Hampton Tribune; May 1, 2001 Page 4
from Elma library collection assembled by Marian (Marr) McGee
Transcribed by ABBYY FineReader® 12, Adapted to the Web by Bill Waters