Donald Duane Pothast

Donald D. Pothast, 86, of Waukon, IA, died Friday, June 17, 2016, at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Waukon. Funeral services will be held Monday, June 20th, at 11:00 AM at St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, with Rev. Lynn G. Groe officiating. Burial with military graveside rites will be at Oakland Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 4:00 PM - 7:00 PM Sunday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Good Samaritan Center, Veterans Memorial Hospital, and St. John's Lutheran Church, all in Waukon.

Donald Duane Pothast was born March 7, 1930, in Waverly, IA, the son of Arthur Julius and Meta Bertha (Benning) Pothast. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Waverly. In 1948, Don graduated from Waverly High School where he played football and basketball. Don received his B.A. in business education and social studies from Iowa State Teachers College (now the University of Northern Iowa) in 1952. Then in September of that year, he enlisted in the United States Army and assigned to the 265th Field Artillery Battalion, 81st Field Artillery Group. He served in Germany and in September 1954, was honorably discharged as a corporal. Don taught school in Paullina, IA, for two years before returning to Northeast Iowa. While attending a dance at Matter's Ballroom in Decorah, IA, Don met Doris Geneva (Ingvalson) Kittelson and wooed her with the line "I suppose you don't want to dance." The couple married on April 26, 1957, at Zion Lutheran Church in West Union, IA, and resided in Waukon, IA. Don received his master's degree in business education and school administration from the University of Iowa in 1960. He taught business education at Waukon schools, where he was known as DECA Don, until retiring in 1991.

Don also held many jobs during the summers. In the 1960s, he was the director of the parks and rec baseball team for boys; he also whitewashed barns and held the position of county weed commissioner. He was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Waukon, where he served on the council, was president of the congregation, and taught Sunday school. An avid sports lover, Don enjoyed golf, playing fast pitch softball, and watching college sports. He loved following his children's and grandchildren's school activities and was a fan of the Chicago White Sox and Iowa Hawkeyes. Don loved flowers and gardening, especially his lilies; he was very knowledgeable about horticulture and always made sure to tell his kids to water his plants if he was unable. Don enjoyed vacationing at his timeshare in Okoboji, IA, visiting his old family farm in Waverly, and bird watching. He liked visiting the Good Samaritan Center in Waukon and reading the Waukon paper to the "old folks", and enjoyed going out to coffee and to eat.

Don is survived by his children: Lynn (Roger) Ellefson of Waterville, IA, Pam (Larry) Dundee of Waukon, and Lori Knutson of La Crosse, WI; son-in-law Larry Nolting of Cedar Rapids, IA; 12 grandchildren: Kim (Mitch) Johnk, Nikki (Jason) Sullivan, Ross (Vanessa) Ellefson, Kristin (Tim Connelly) Ellfeson, Stacy (Eric) Wyninger, Christie (Jake) Poppe, Joshua (Misty Hatfield) Tallman, Heather Medd, Amanda, Josiah (Linda Sykes), and Seth Tallman, and David Knutson; 15 great-grandchildren; three step great-grandchildren; a brother Merlin Pothast of Shell Rock, IA; stepsister Janet (Don) McClain of Iowa City, IA; a dear cousin; and many very special nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Doris in 2009; a daughter Doreen Nolting; a brother Henry (Beverly) Pothast; three sisters: Ardith (Harold) Roberts, Ruth (Elmer) Arns, and infant Mildred; a stillborn baby sibling; stepmother Reba Pothast; grandson-in-law Josh Medd; and sister-in-law Henrietta Pothast.

Honorary casketbearers are Ron Brandt, Rupert Caballero, Randy Erion, Rich Gaard, Wayne Sawyer, Jerry Siegrist, and Bud Strike. Casketbearers are Ross Ellefson, Austin Johnk, David Knutson, Jackson Poppe, Brady, Kaden, and Logan Sullivan, Josh, Josiah, and Seth Tallman, and Riley Wyninger.