Geraldine (Niemuth) Potratz died peacefully at her Weyauwega home on Tuesday, December 11, 2018.
Jerry, as she was better known, was born on March 8, 1927 in Oshkosh, the daughter of John and Wilhelmina (Tokarski) Niemuth. She attended Smith Grade School, graduated from Oshkosh High School with highest honors, and attended Oshkosh Teacher’s College. On November 30, 1946, Jerry married John C. Potratz Jr. They both held clerical positions in Oshkosh, but soon rented a farm near Poy Sippi, and eventually bought a dairy farm near Fremont on December 10, 1949. This was where they raised their six children, and established a successful dairy farm, which they named East Acres Dairy Farm. Jerry lived there for more than 50 years. Jerry was a member of The First Church of Christ, Scientist in Oshkosh, but attended Hope United Church of Christ near Fremont with her family. She was a Den Mother for Fremont Cub Scout Pack and was a past President of the Fremont-Wolf River American Legion Auxiliary Post 391. Jerry’s children and grandchildren will fondly remember her as their mentor in gardening and thrifty shopping (coupon collecting), her love of chicken barbecues, scrabble and bird-watching, her thimble collection, and her research in our family’s genealogy.
Jerry is survived by her children: Peggy Hoeft, Oshkosh; Terry (Gary) Schneider, Minocqua; Connie (Daniel) Potratz-Watson, Oshkosh; Jeffrey Potratz, Waupaca, and Shelley (Doug) Stockard, Weyauwega; 10 grandchildren: Scott Hoeft, Sarah (Michael) Wright, Joseph (Amanda) Pitzo, Jennifer (Edmund) Johnson, John-Michael (Jennifer) Pitzo, Christy (John) Peters, Julie (Anthony) Seashore, John C. Potratz IV, Mackenzie Watson, and Jamie (Karl) Keach; 20 great-grandchildren: Kaylee (Peyton Moore, fiancé) Wright, Payton (Chris) Gozdeck, Joey Wright, Reya and Dominic Pitzo, Jaiden Rios, Nikolai and Nolan Chaffin, Sophie and Zoe Panske, Kendell and Addison Johnson, Jude Pitzo, Alyssa Reetz, Anthony, Jeffrey and Gavin Seashore, Cadence Potratz, Emme and Max Keach; and one great-great-grandson, Michael Gozdeck. Jerry was preceded in death by her parents, her two brothers and three sisters, her husband John C. Potratz Jr., her granddaughter Heather Potratz, her son-in-law Kevin Hasson, and her son John C. Potratz III.
A memorial service will be held next spring. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made in her name to the Fremont-Wolf River American Legion Auxiliary, Post 391, in care of Connie Potratz-Watson (312 Wyldewood Dr., Oshkosh, WI, or Terry (Potratz) Schneider (9135 Point Drive, Minocqua, WI 54481).
The family would like to thank the staff at Evergreen Manor, Oshkosh, the Aurora at Home and Aurora Hospice at Home health care teams, and mom’s special friend, Brenda Koplien, for the gentle and loving care they provided.