Donald Potter

Donald “Jerry” Potter, Sr., 76, of Dowagiac, MI, passed away on Friday, November 25, 2016 at Lakeland Medical Center, St. Joseph, MI. A Celebration of Life Service will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2016 at 11am at First United Methodist Church of Dowagiac. Interment will follow at Riverside Cemetery, Dowagiac. Pallbearers will be Juan Hernandez, Craig Lyons, George Lillie, Colby Novar, Patrick Potter and Juan Alex Hernandez. Friends may visit with the family on Tuesday, Nov. 29th, from 5-7pm at Clark Chapel, 405 Center St. Dowagiac. Memorial donations may be directed to Cass County Council on Aging, 227 South Front St. Dowagiac, MI 49047. Those wishing to leave an online condolence may do so at www.clarkch.com. Jerry was born on February 22, 1940 in Dowagiac, MI to Donald Melvin Potter and Rosemary (Stage) Potter. He graduated from Dowagiac HS in 1959 and joined the US Air Force, where he played tuba in the Air Force Band. Upon being honorably discharged from the military, he began a long career as a lineman for General Telephone, (GTE), retiring in the mid-1990’s. He married Carole Arlene Dobos on May 29, 1965 in Dowagiac. His love of music carried over through his life and he spent many years playing with the SMC Brass Band. He also enjoyed taking short trips around Michigan, spending time with his family, collecting antiques and ducks. He showed his love for his hometown by collecting bottles from Dowagiac Bottling Works, Dowagiac Farmers Dairy and other Dowagiac memorabilia. Jerry was known to go for a walk and make a new friend or two while out. He enjoyed talking to everyone, friend or stranger. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by a brother, Alton Lee Potter. Jerry is survived by his wife, Carole Potter, of Dowagiac; two sons, Donald Jerry Potter, Jr. (Kimberly) of Goshen, IN and David Arthur Potter, of Dowagiac, MI; a daughter Michelle Lee Hernandez (Juan) of Kalamazoo, MI; a brother, William Clifford Potter, of Edwardsburg, MI and a sister-in-law, Nancy Potter, of Dowagiac, MI. He is also survived by six grandchildren, Damien Potter, Alyssa Potter (Jeremy Libera), Celicia Hernandez, Juan Alex Hernandez, Joseph Hernandez and Cohen Potter; a great granddaughter, Karmon Libera and several nieces and nephews.