Surnames: Potocnik, Anderson, Saks, Christensen, Paulsen, Williams, Unbehaun, Ritchay, Neumueller

----Sources: Herald Times Reporter (Manitowoc, Wis.) 29 July 2004

Potocnik, John (5 July 1911 - 26 July 2004)

OWEN - John Potocnik, 93, died Monday, July 26, 2004, at Clark County Health Care Center, Owen.

Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday at Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee. A brief Masonic service will take place at 11 a.m. in Nazareth Church Hall. At 11:30 a.m., a processional will lead the family back into the Nazareth sanctuary for the funeral service conducted by Pastor Bryan Anderson.

Ritchay Funeral Home, Wisconsin Rapids, is handling the arrangements.

Memorials May be made in John's name to Nazareth Lutheran Church in Withee.

Born July 5, 1911, to John and Anna (Saks) Potocnik in Harding County, S.D., the family moved to a farm north of Owen in 1919.

John graduated from Elmhorst School and then worked in Milwaukee for a few years. In his late teens, he was hired to work on the farm of Jacob and Maggie Christensen. He served in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the winter of 1934 and 1935, returning to work on the Christensen farm after completing CCC service.

On Oct. 5, 1935, he married Margrete Ann Christensen at Nazareth Lutheran Church. Two daughters were born to this union, Karen Mary (Elliott) Paulsen, Balsam Lake, and Kristi Ann (Roger) Williams, Cottage Grove.

He continued farming and, in 1940, the two families formed Christensen and Potocnik farm, which expanded to 240 acres over the decades of operation.

John was named Owen's outstanding young farmer in 1951. During this time he also sold Pioneer Seed Corn and Badger Farm Equipment. The Christensen-Potocnik farm was sold in 1965, and the couple moved to Owen, where they lived until 2000, when they moved to the Angelus Retirement Community in Colby. On Jan. 30, 2004, the couple moved to Clark County Health Care Center in Owen.

After the farm was sold, John began marketing farm equipment for Roth Manufacturing of Loyal. They recognized his 25 years of dedicated service with a plaque in 1990.

John was an active member of Nazareth Lutheran Church, Owen Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star. He and Margrete were leaders of the Park's Happy 13 4-H Club for 25 years. Together they enjoyed traveling and helping family and friends. John loved life and had a feisty, resilient spirit.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John and Anna Potocnik; brothers, Emil and Rudy; and sister, Anna.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years, Margrete, a Clark County Health Care Center resident; daughters, Karen (Elliott) Paulsen and Kristi (Roger) Williams; grandchildren, Rory (Dana Johnson) Paulsen, Troy (Debbie Unbehaun) Paulsen, Landon (Ann Ritchay) Williams, Stephanie Williams; and great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Emma Paulsen. His sister, Mary Neumueller, also survives him.