Ethlyn Lorraine Potratz

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9

Ethlyn Lorraine Potratz was born on July 8, 1926, in Benton County, Iowa, to Rudolph Jakob and Georgia Ann (Gulstorf) Albers.  She was baptized into Christ at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Keystone, Iowa, on September 17, 1926, and confirmed there on March 17, 1940.  She attended a one room country school and graduated from Keystone High School in 1944. Ethlyn then attended Gates Business College. She married Ferdinand Rudolf Albert Potratz at Grace Lutheran Church on November 20, 1965; he preceded her in death on April 27, 1980. Ethlyn aspired to be a nurse but life circumstances did not allow it so instead she worked as a ward housekeeper and as a nurses’ aide at Schoitz Hospital and Friendship Village.

Ethlyn enjoyed reading, playing cards and watching sports – especially her beloved Iowa Hawkeyes football and basketball teams. She also enjoyed traveling – taking road trips with her family; a European adventure with Ferd; several short and long bus trips with friends; an Alaskan cruise with her dear friend Vivian; stops at multiple Caribbean islands while adventuring with family; and a multigenerational Mexican Riviera cruise with her children and grandchildren.  Her late in life bucket list trip was a bus tour to the Rose Parade at the age of 80. Her final trip to Arizona was Thanksgiving 2019 and prior to that she made it a point to be present for all of her grandchildrens’ birthday celebrations, missing only one of them during the week of 9/11.  Countless other Arizona trips included graduations, sporting events and holidays. She had a faithful devotional life, was an active member of Grace Lutheran Church for decades and was the last of Grace’s original Pie Ladies. LWML activities were very important to her and provided a strong connection to her beloved sisters in Christ at Grace.  Salvation through Jesus Christ and her family were her greatest joys.  Her bright smile and peaceful countenance were a blessing to many.

Ethlyn was delivered from this vale of tears while listening to Psalms and hymns as she peacefully and confidently fell asleep in Jesus, surrounded by family, at The Deery Suites on Monday, May 1, 2023, at the age of 96. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; two sisters: Ardis Rose Albers and Rose Marie Ruth Albers – both in childhood; and two granddaughters: Olivia Grace Honebrink and Lila Ethlyn Honebrink. Ethlyn is survived by three daughters: Ruth Ann Potratz of Cedar Falls, Rita Kay Potratz of Waterloo and Diana Lynn (Tom) Honebrink of Oro Valley, Arizona; three grandchildren: Max Ferdinand (Sarah Hubbard) Honebrink, Athena Olivia Ida Honebrink and Beatrice Lori Honebrink; cousin Rosalie Glime of Van Horne; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33.

Memorials may be directed to Grace Lutheran Church or Valley Lutheran School.

Visitation: Tuesday, May 23, 2023, at 10:00am at Grace Lutheran Church, 1024 W. Eighth St., Waterloo; followed by Funeral Service at 11:00am; and Committal at Garden of Memories Cemetery.