Potter, Charles Zenda 1887 - 1953

POTTER, MUMBY, LOWE, VONDRA, MAYNARD, KIDDEROF, WILSON, POPENHAGEN, LANDIS

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 5/21/2018 at 11:00:12

Clayton County Register, Thur., 19 Nov. 1953. Volga City News column.

Charles Zenda Potter was born January 4, 1887, into the family of Willard W. and Alice Mumby Potter, who were living on a farm west of Volga. They moved to Waucoma where the lived a few years during Zenda's early childhood, then to Fayette where their son grew to manhood. He attended public school, graduated from high school and studied a year at Upper Iowa University. He taught school in Fayette county two years. Then he went to North Dakota for land and homesteaded a claim near Rhame where he lived for ten years. He served in the U.S. Army ten months during the first World War. Later he identified himself with the D.A.V. and M.W.A. organizations.

He was united in marriage with Miss Grace Lowe of Volga on Feb. 8, 1921. Their first home was a farm near Fayette. Later they came to Volga community where they continued farming. Three children were born to them; Daniel, Richard and Norma. In 1942 Mr. Potter bought a farm at Graf in Dubuque county and moved there. It was in his home at Graf that he died shortly before midnight on Friday, Nov. 13, following a comparatively short illness.

He is survived by his aged mother, Mrs. Alice Potter of Fayette; his wife and sons, Daniel and Richard of Graf; his daughter, Mrs. Norma Vondra of Cuba City, Wis.; his brother, Ernest J. Potter of Oakland, Calif.; and his two sisters, Mrs. Viola Maynard also of Oakland, and Mrs. Ona Kidderof, Kennewick, Wash. He also leaves three grandchildren; Carol Marie Potter, Lester and Barbara Vondra.

Services were held in the Methodist church at Volga, Monday afternoon with the Rev. Floyd Maynard officiating. Donald Whitford and Mrs. Leo Gether sang "The Old Rugged Cross" and "Good Night and Good Morning." They were accompanied at the piano by Mrs. Wallace Oldfather. The American Legion Post was well represented at the service, fired the salute and sounded taps at the cemetery, following the reading of the burial service by the minister.

The pallbearers were: Gilbert Troester, William Bodish, Clement Basten, Norman Boyes, Graff; Lyle Jennings, Volga, and Clair Dillon, Strawberry Point. Burial was made by the grave of an infant daughter in Hill Crest cemetery, Volga.

Those from out of town attending the funeral were the following relatives: Mrs. Potter, Richard Potter, Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Potter of Graf; Mr. and Mrs. Ray Potter, Mrs. Lucy Wilson ad Mr. and Mrs. Otto Popenhagen of Fayette; and Mr. and Mrs. Elmer Landis of Lima, and Ernest Potter of Oakland, Calif.