Myrtle I. Potter

After a long and happy life, Myrtle was called by her Lord to be reunited with her husband, her parents, family, other relatives and friends in her heavenly home at the age of 99 years on Tuesday, December 29, 2020.

She was born on April 21, 1921, to Robert A. Laedtke and Emma (Schroeder) Laedtke in Appleton, where she lived her entire life. She graduated from St. Paul Lutheran School, Wilson Jr. High School, and with the first graduating class of Appleton West High School in 1939. After that she did office work, clerking, etc. until she became employed by Aid Association for Lutherans (now Thrivent) in 1941 doing secretarial work for the next ten years.

In 1945, she married her high school sweetheart whom she loved dearly, Boyd E. Potter, upon his return from WWII. They were married for 56 years. After the birth of their son Douglas in 1950, she became a stay-at-home mom until he was school age.

At that time, she became one of the first employees at Appleton Memorial Hospital (now ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton). She worked there for 31 years and retired in 1988 as Admitting Supervisor.

For the next 12 years she and Boyd enjoyed their retirement, which included traveling to Virginia in the DC area, Florida, Las Vegas, Illinois, Northern Wisconsin, frequent trips to Milwaukee where their son and his family lived, and relaxing in Appleton. She enjoyed her family and friends.

She returned to ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton as a volunteer in the cancer department and stayed there another 10 years. Myrtle was a happy person when she could be of assistance to others. In her spare time, she enjoyed shopping, going out for dinner, and to the casinos. In her younger years she was involved in her church organizations and clubs with friends and in her later years she was content with everyday activities. She was a life-long member of St. Paul Lutheran Church.

She is survived by her son Douglas B. (wife Gloria J.) Potter of Wauwatosa; granddaughter Sarah (husband Matt) of Elm Grove; great-granddaughters Claire and Charlotte; grandson Brian of Milwaukee; nephews Bob Laedtke (wife Laura), Jim Herzfeldt (wife Wendy), Dennis Mueller (wife Kathy), and Jim Potter (wife Marie); nieces Donna Lou Herzfeldt-Kamprath (husband Tim), Mary Lynn Johnson (husband Lon), and Trude Potter-Klade (husband Jerry).

Preceding her in death were husband Boyd, father and mother Robert and Emma Laedtke, brother Col. E.C. (Bud) Laedtke and wife Mae Laedtke, sister and husband Lucille and Donald Herzfeldt, and an infant sister, Ruth; also preceding her was her mother-in-law Laura Potter, father-in-law Charles Potter, in-laws Maxine and Walter Mueller, Merrill, June and second wife Katy Potter; other aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends.

The family would like to thank the staff at Country Villa Assisted Living of Freedom, especially Tina Vosters, for their loving care, as well as the staff at Heartland Hospice for their guidance.

She was laid to rest in a private service at Highland Memorial Park Cemetery, Appleton. Memorials to St. Paul Lutheran Church, ThedaCare Regional Medical Center – Appleton or a charity of your choice will be appreciated.