Henry Potthast, 78

Henry C. “Hank” Potthast, 78, of Highland died on Thursday, April 7, 2016 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Highland.

Visitation will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Monday, April 11 and from 8 to 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12 at Spengel-Boulanger Funeral Home in Highland. A funeral Mass will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 12 at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland, with Father Pat G. Jakel, pastor, officiating. Burial will be in St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland.

He was born on April 11, 1937 in Highland to Raymond W. and Emma A. (Lunitz) Potthast. On April 7, 1955, he married Jacqueline “Jackie” Gause at St. Paul Catholic Church in Highland. She survives in Highland.

Mr. Potthast grew up on the farm north of Highland. He was a 1955 graduate of St. Paul High School. He started working for Neubauer’s Meat Market as a sophomore in high school. He worked there until he retired at age 62 in 1999. He also sharpened saws as a vocation.

He enjoyed deer hunting, following his grandchildren’s sporting events, and playing cards (euchre and jass). He and his wife enjoyed playing bingo together. He always had a large garden.

Other survivors include a son, Carl R. “C.P.” (Elizabeth A. “Beth” nee Gehrig) Potthast of Highland; grandchildren, Heather A. (significant other Chris Bruce) Potthast, Tiffany A. (significant other Ryan Zimmerman) Potthast, Brad R. Potthast (twin) and Chad R. Potthast (twin), all of Highland; a great-grandchild, Brody C. R. Bruce of Highland; brothers, Edward Potthast of Springhill, Fla., and Ray (Gladys) Potthast of Edwardsville; sisters, Martha Talleur of Highland, Mary Gnaedinger of Highland, Theresa Richter of Aviston and Monica Rehkemper of Highland; brothers-in-law, Edward Moenster of Highland, James W. (Stacy) Gause of Sesser, Ill., Fred W. (Leann) Gause of Anclaron, S.C., and Vernon Steiner of Grantfork; and sisters-in-law, Karen S. Potthast of Highland, Jane E. Landolt of Highland and Doris Gause of Edwardsville.

He was preceded in death by his father, who died on Jan. 10, 1986; his mother, who died on Nov. 2, 1945; a sister, Jeanette M. “Jen” Moenster, who died on July 15, 2008; brothers, Jerome Potthast, who died on March 13, 1986, and Paul T. Potthast, who died on Oct. 12, 2015; sisters-in-law, Jeanne Potthast, Jean Potthast, Norma Gene Gause, who died on Dec. 24, 2004, Lois L. Steiner, who died on April 11, 2014, Betty Lou Balke, who died in 1997, and Carladine Vulliet, who died on Jan. 5, 2016; brothers-in-law, Richard Talleur, who died on July 13, 1985, Vincent Gnaedinger, who died on June 2, 2001, Jerome Richter, David Rehkemper, who died on May 7, 2010, Carl L. Gause, who died on May 23, 2009, Darrell M. Landolt, who died on June 8, 2010, Rolland W. “Rollie” Vulliet Jr., who died on Sept. 28, 2008, and Harry “Bud” Balke.

Memorials may be made to the family.

This story was originally published April 8, 2016 at 9:42 AM with the headline "Henry Potthast, 78."