A Mass of Christian Burial for Luella Potratz, age 87, was held Tuesday, June 18, 2024 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Spirit Lake. Burial was at St. Margaret Cemetery.
Luella passed away June 13, 2024 at Lakes Regional Healthcare.
Luella Marie Lallier was born on February 24th, 1937 to John T. and Mary (Kunkel) Lallier. She attended St. Benedict School and then St. Cecelia School and Church in Algona.
Luella worked as a waitress in Algona and after moving to Estherville and raising 4 kids took a job with the school district lunch program serving and delivering lunches. She then worked at Spurgeon’s clothing store for a few years after that.
She met Dick Potratz at a Christmas night dance at the Plantation Ballroom in Whittemore and were united in marriage on February 9th, 1961. They moved to Estherville in 1961 and then to the Spirit Lake area in 1993. They were happily married for 63 years.
Lu loved playing cards, mostly 500 with their card club in the 70s and teaching her kids and grandkids the “ins and outs” and maybe some subtle hints to her playing partner, sometimes into the early morning hours. She loved watching her kids play all sports, but baseball and softball were her favorites. She and Dick planned their days and nights around the Twins games. She loved having the whole family around to cook, making her famous potato salad, apple pies and cinnamon rolls. She never thought there was enough food and then complained she had so many leftovers. There was never a dull moment when Lu got going whether it was with her kids or grandkids, or her grandkids got her going. She is well known for her love of Iced Coffee and Pull Tabs. You can just order “Lu” at the Starbucks in Spirit Lake knowing it has been tested and refined over the years.
Left to cherish Lu’s memory is her husband Dick of 63 years; children: Nancy Maas of Spirit Lake, Patty Potratz of Des Moines, Rick (Michelle) Potratz of Maple Grove MN, Kari (Mark) Gjerde of Estherville; grandchildren Nick (Leanne) Stoeckel of Lexington MN, Molly Stoeckel of Los Angeles, CA, Chelsey (Joe) Anderson of Spirit Lake, Nathan Stoeckel of Faribault, MN, Maggie (Patrick) Blackburn of Hernando, MS, Melissa (Jordan) Eggers of Dunnell, MN, Blake Gjerde of Estherville, Kendall Potratz of Maple Grove, MN, and Hayden Potratz of Maple Grove, MN. Great grandchildren: Evan Stoeckel, Lucie Blackburn, Claire Stoeckel, Eve Stoeckel, Willow Stoeckel, Maeve Blackburn, Boyd Anderson, Jack Blackburn, Blair Eggers, Emma Anderson and Bo Eggers. Brother Marv (Caryle) Lallier of Arkansas, sister in-law Anita Lallier of Algona, brothers-in-law Dave (Sheryl) Potratz and Dean (Kelly) Potratz of Humboldt; and many nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her parents: Mary and John; brothers: Arnie, Charles, Kenny and Dick; sisters Delores Lesher and Noreen Waterman, sister in-laws Peg Lallier, Deloris Lallier, Inez Potratz and brother in-laws Curt Waterman, Lyle Lesher and Edward Potratz.
Turner Jenness Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
