Obituary of Joseph J Potts

JOSEPH JAMES POTTS December 1, 1943 - September 11, 2022 Joe Potts, 78, of Punta Gorda, Florida and formerly of Frye Island, Maine, peacefully passed into the arms of his Savior, Jesus Christ, on September 11, 2022. Joe fought cancers for years with courage, strength and grace. Joe graduated from Lutheran High School South in St. Louis, Missouri; earned a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri; and a Master of Business Administration from Pepperdine University. He often commented that his leadership skills were acquired as a founding member of the Mizzou Iota chapter of Beta Sigma Psi, a national Lutheran fraternity where he made lifelong friends. Joe was employed by General Telephone & Electronics Corporation (GTE) in engineering management for his entire working career, retiring in 1999. Joe’s career with GTE (now Verizon) had him and his family move many times over the years including Missouri, Iowa, Connecticut, California, Connecticut (again), Indiana, and Massachusetts; all moves demonstrating that sometimes it’s okay to not unpack a box or three. While retired, Joe proved that if a man can’t keep himself busy, sooner or later he would get bored. Travel, sports, volunteering, and enjoying his family and friends became his passions. Though traveling for work sent Joe across the globe, he began a true love of traveling with Kathy, his wife, visiting almost all 50 states and five of the seven continents. Joe thoroughly revered all sports which included playing football, basketball, and baseball at Lutheran High School South. His true love was golf, where a life highlight was a hole in one at the Frye Island Golf Course; although he joyfully sacrificed many a ball to the woods, ponds, oceans. Joe and Kathy were long time residents of Frye Island, Maine. Joe’s involvement on the island began as a board member for the Municipal Services Corporation and continued when he led the drive for the Island’s independence from the Town of Standish. He was honored to also serve as Head Selectman, interim Town Manager, and Town Treasurer. While on the island, he and Kathy hosted many family and friends at Homeport, but his favorite time of the summer were the “Nana-Camps” when his grandsons visited for 2 weeks each summer to golf, tube behind Island Girl, catch frogs, eat lobster and get ice cream from this Island store. Joe’s last volunteer role was as Treasurer of Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Florida, serving as Church Treasurer for the last 10 years. Though budget conscious, he always managed to ensure that each committee successfully achieved their goals. Amongst one of Joe’s strongest talents was a knack for falling asleep at the drop of a hat. Whether on a plane or sofa, Joe would have been asleep before wheels up or coffee was served at a dinner party. Joe will always be remembered by family and friends as a faithful husband, loving father, and proud grandfather. Joe is survived by his wife, Kathleen (née Paske); two sons, Michael (wife Ruth) and Timothy (wife Katie); brother, James (wife Maureen); sister, Judith (husband Steve Jenneman); brother-in-law, Donald Paske (wife Dee); grandchildren, Coen, Luke and Max; and nieces, nephews and many dear friends. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at Burnt Store Presbyterian Church in Punta Gorda, Florida on Saturday, October 1, 2022 at 11am. The service will be conducted by Pastors Lou Zuck and Dennis Perryman. Internment in the church memorial garden will follow the service and reception. Dress for the service will be island casual. Memorial gifts may be sent to Burnt Store Presbyterian Church at the address above or Samaritan’s Purse: www.samaritanspurse.org