- Visitation
4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Monday March 5th
8:00 to 9:30 a.m.
Tuesday March 6th
- Service
10:30 a.m.
Tuesday
Immaculate Conception Church in Pierron
- Full Obituary
Clarence H. Potthast, 88, of Highland, died Friday March 2, 2007 at Highland Health Care, in Highland.
Visitation will be from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m. Monday March 5th and 8:00 to 9:30 a.m. Tuesday March 6th, at the Meridith Funeral Home in Highland. A funeral Mass will be held 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, at the Immaculate Conception Church in Pierron with Rev. Carlos Bohorquez officiating. Burial will be at Calvary Cemetery in Pierron.
Mr. Potthast was born May 1, 1918 in Pocahontas to Henry J. and Ida E. (Koch) Potthast. On April 26, 1943 he married Blanche M. (Bellm) Potthast at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland. She preceded him in death April 12, 2005.
Mr. Potthast grew up in rural Pocahontas and attended the Immaculate Conception School in Pierron. He was a Corporal in the Army Air Corps in World War II serving as a Sheet Metal Specialist from 1942 to 1944. He and his wife operated a dairy and grain farm southeast of Pierron for over 52 years. He also owned and operated the Thick-n-Thin Lumber saw mill east of Pierron that he had purchased from his Uncle Joe Potthast in 1949. In 1995 he and his wife moved to Highland.
Much of his life was dedicated to baseball as he built numerous area baseball diamonds including those at Glik Park, P.I.C. Park, and even a full size baseball field on the family farm. He coached many Khoury league and Women’s softball teams and was Founder/ Manager of the Highland-Pierron Merchants intercity baseball team. He invented a base driving device that was patented for installing bases on ball diamonds; "The CH Base Anchor and Driver System" still being sold today.
Mr. Potthast was a member of the Highland-Pierron Fire Department for over 30 years, and was instrumental in forming the Pierron Improvement Club (P.I.C.). He was a member of the Bond County Board, Mid America Dairy Association, Knights of Columbus, Optimist Club, Holy Name Society and Choir member at the Immaculate Conception Church in Pierron. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather. He enjoyed singing, making and sharing popcorn, and telling a story to everyone he knew.
Survivors include seven children: Patricia L. (Willie) Frey, Kathleen E. (Neal) Quitmeyer, Clarence H. "J.R." (Marcia) Potthast, Jr. all of Highland, Allen L. (Kathy) Potthast and Roger J. (Sharon) Potthast of Pocahontas, Diane M. (Gary) Bargetzi of Highland, and Robert M. (Nyle) Potthast of Crystal Lake, IL. 20 grandchildren; Gayle Frey (special friend Kristen Bond), Tricia (Brad) Rembisz, Mindy (Steve) Fenton, Kevin Quitmeyer (special friend Nicole Jakel), Abbey Quitmeyer, Breanne, Brooke, Alyssa and Kara Potthast, Tessa, Allyn "Ali", Kathryn "Katie", and Sam Potthast, Kyle, Luke, and Kristin Potthast, Brendan and Morgan Bargetzi, and Amanda and Spencer Potthast. 2 step grandchildren; Bria Veitel and Jamie Jo Palenchar. 7 great grandchildren; Lauren, Ashlyn, and Madison Fenton, Hayden and Wade Quitmeyer, William Potthast, and Riley Frey. 1 step great grandchild Erin Fenton. 2 brothers; Velmar J. (Helen) Potthast and Marcellus J. "Weakie" (Ellie) Potthast of Pocahontas and 2 sisters; Sr. Mary E. "Mitz" Potthast of Wheaton, IL and Imelda G. "Milly" Bosshart of Chicago, IL.
He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother Raymond W. Potthast, two sisters; Valeria J. "Fay" Goestenkors, and Eleanor C. Goestenkors.
Memorials may be made to the Alexian Brothers Center for Brain Research (Autism/Dementia),(Make check payable to Alexian Brothers Health System) Masses to Fr. Richard Potthast in Uganda, East Africa, (Make checks payable to Holy Cross Mission Center) the Pierron Improvement Club (P.I.C.) Park, or the C.H. Potthast Baseball Memorial Fund.
Send all contributions to Meridith Funeral Home, 920 Ninth St. Highland, IL 62249
Meridith Funeral Home, Highland, IL
