John Richard Potts, age 98, went to be with his Lord on Tuesday, May 27, 2025. God blessed him with a full life of serving others and being a blessing to family and friends. He was a conscientious, hard worker whether he was handling a horse, operating a bulldozer, maintaining a ship’s diesel engines, or trucking down the highway. He was an exemplary man of faith, devoted to his family, served as an elder, and was always ready to help others in need.
John was born on May 23, 1927, in Birds Hill near Winnipeg in Manitoba, Canada; the third of five children born to Wiert and Fenna (Flikkema) Pott. The family emigrated to Anceney, Montana in 1929 and moved to Bellflower, California in 1936. His dad changed their last name from Pott to Potts in 1938 when they became U.S. citizens. They returned to Montana (Gallatin Gateway) in 1942, where John helped work the family farm. He served as a Machinist Mate in the Navy during the Korean War and was honorably discharged in 1954. In 1955 he married Della Koeman, who had left Graafschaap to teach first grade at Manhattan Christian School. In 1972 they and their five children moved to Holland, Michigan. John had many interesting jobs: farming, ranch hand, logging, road construction, car sales, operating a trucking business, and local/overland trucking. He enjoyed hunting, golfing, fishing, traveling, reading, and the company of family and friends. He lived through the Great Depression and World War II, his lifetime spanning 18 different presidents.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Della (Koeman) Potts; his second wife, Evelyn (Veltkamp) Potts; four siblings: Albert, Faye, Margaret, Herbert, and most of their spouses; daughter-in-law, Kristie (VanEss) Potts; in-laws: Ken and Myra Schuiteman, Dale and Shirley VanOmen, Jerry Koeman, Paul Koeman, and Carol (Koeman) Derks.
He is survived by five children: John and Kathy (Ribbens) Potts, Sheryl and David Alkema, Sheila and Leon Meiste, Jeffrey and Cathy (Haak) Potts, Greg and Carol Potts; 18 grandchildren; 40 great-grandchildren; in-laws: Evelyn (Danhof) Potts, Ruth Koeman, Marcia and Evart Helms; Ken and Nancy Derks; many nephews and nieces; four step-children: Tom, Lila, Kathy, John, their spouses, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services will be 1:00 p.m. on Friday, May 30, at Park Christian Reformed Church, 1496 W 32nd St., Holland, with Rev. Dan Steen and Mr. Bryant Russ officiating. Burial will be at Graafschaap Cemetery (family only). Visitation will be 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, May 29, also at Park CRC. Memorial gifts may be given to Holland Christian Schools.
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