Josephine "Josie" Potthast

Josephine "Josie" Potthast, 86, of Highland, died Tuesday, Nov. 23, 2010, at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Mo.
She was born Aug. 31, 1924, to Joseph and Theresa (Nee Ottensmeier) Zurliene in Aviston.
On May 7, 1946, she married Norbert Potthast at St. Francis Church in Aviston.
Josie was a member of St. Paul Church in Highland where she was a Eucharistic Minister and Sunday School teacher. She was a Kirchenfest Grass Roots leader, volunteer and role model. She belonged to Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary, Daughters of Isabella, Hospital Auxiliary and St. Ann's Altar Society. She was a member of Highland Garden Club, Moose Lodge and Moose Heart in Edwardsville, Kitchen Band, Joy Singers, Red Hat Ladies, Royal Neighbors, Highland Historical Society and Madison County Farm Bureau. She was a 4-H supporter and a Madison County Fair Merchant. She was a long-time supporter and fundraiser for the American Heart Association.
Josie helped out on the family farm as a child and then she worked at the Shoe Factory and Egg Factory before her marriage. She was an Amway distributor, Ams/Oil distributor and co-owner of N. Potthast Lawn Equipment and Green House with her husband from 1956 to 1980.
She was a designer of one-of-a-kind costumes. She shared her talents at events, parades and parties.
She is survived by five children: Mary Esther (Robert) Muentnich of Collinsville; Marvin (Connie) Potthast of St. Rose; Melvin (Dayna Johnson) Potthast of Glen Carbon; Myron (Patricia) Potthast of Columbia; Marsha Jo (Adelbert "Bert") Elliott II of Highland; 13 grandchildren, Michele (David) Muentnich Sheahan, Scott (Stephanie) Muentnich, Kelly (fiancé Brian Timmons) Potthast, Chrisa (Brad) Potthast Leezer, Carrie (Tyler) Potthast Kramer, Kimberly (Nick) Potthast Rahar, Craig E. (Nicole Hastings) Potthast, Linda (Peter) Potthast Sambor, Andrew (Mary) Potthast, Jacqueline M. Elliott, Jonathan T. (Samantha) Elliott, SrA Valerie L. Elliott, Stephanie D. (fiancé SrA Michael A. Krohn) Elliott; 11 great-grandchildren, Hannah and Brendan Sheahan, Madeline and Sophia Muentnich, Abbigail Leezer, Ethan and Cora Potthast, Alyssa Sambor, Lucas James Potthast, Breanna N. and Alyssa R. Elliott; one brother, Ferdinand Zurliene; five sisters-in-law, Irene Zurliene, Margie Zurliene, Mary Zurliene, Ruth Potthast, Betty Potthast; three brothers-in-law, Doyle Reynolds, Anthony "Tony" (Ruth) Potthast and Ferdinand (Joan) Potthast.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Joseph and Theresa Zurliene; husband, Norbert Potthast; son, Mark Potthast; brothers and sisters, Louise (Gregory) Hazelhorst, Theodore Zurliene, Loretta (Claude) Stimson, Otto (Florence) Zurliene, Charles Zurliene, Joseph Zurliene, Frederic Zurliene in Infancy, Lavina Zurliene in infancy; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Emma Potthast at birth, Ernest Potthast, Quinton Potthast, Sr. Mary Agnes Potthast, Cornelia Reynolds, Donald Potthast and Alice Zurliene.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Paul's Church, the Heart Transplant Association or the Highland Historical Society.
Visitation is Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, from 8 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul Church in Highland.
Mass of Christian Burial is Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, at 11 a.m. at St. Paul Church.
Interment will be at St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Highland.