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BORN
1926
DIED
2024
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June Potochnik Obituary
June 19, 1926 - October 7, 2024
Modesto, California - June was born 6/19/1926 to Anton and Nina Runbeck in Huron, South Dakota. She had one brother, Chuck, and they spent most of their youth in Aberdeen South Dakota except for 2 years in Coolidge Arizona. In high school she loved playing the violin in the orchestra and working in the local library. Receiving her degree in education from Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen she pursued a career as an elementary school teacher. She moved to Modesto California to start her teaching career in 1948 where she met and married Rudy Potochnik and had sons, Anton, Andre and Kim and daughter Maria. Rudy and June started out folk dancing at Graceada Park and remained active in the community throughout their 53 years together. They both wrote articles in Our Turn for the Modesto Bee, were founding members of MICL (Modesto Institute for Continued Learning), and participated in the first trip to Khmelnitsky (then USSR) to establish our 1st sister city. A love of travel took them throughout the US, Canada, Mexico, Europe and Asia. They both enjoyed singing, dancing, theater and time with their friends and family. Devoted and hard working, June was always there as a daughter, wife, mother, grandma, teacher and community member. She always had a fascination with life stories, being those of relatives she found in her genealogy research, or the person she just met sitting next to her. Intelligent and thoughtful with a playful sense of humor she exemplified non-judgmental grace. Her genuine smile and care for all those she met brought light to us all, even in her last days. Go in peace dear one and thank you for all you have been to so many of us these 98 years. June was predeceased by husband Rudy and brother Chuck and survived by children Tony (Debbie) (Cincinnati OH), Andre (Melinda) (Flagstaff AZ), Kim (Marcy)(Kapaau HI), Maria (Modesto CA), granddaughters Angela (Cincinnati OH) and Sophia (Modesto CA) and great granddaughters Mabel and Amelia (Cincinnati). Memorial gifts may be made to any charity promoting peace or helping the environment.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for June Potochnik
Sponsored by ModestoBee.com.
Brian Blackmon
November 13, 2024
Very sorry for the family loss of June Potochnik!! I´m 99% sure it was June that wrote an article in the Modesto Bee years ago about my Grandparents Catherine and Ben West who were their neighbors on Pine Street in Modesto! My Grandparents were from the South, Louisiana and Alabama and used to play music on their front porch every weekend!! Good ole Southern Blue grass music!! If I recall, the Potochnik family would enjoy listening to their music in the neighborhood and so interested they(she) wrote an awesome article in the Bee about them!!! I remember reading it and thought how great that was that she would acknowledge and say such kind things about my Grandparents!! Thank you!! My mom was Shirley West(Blackmon) and lived at that home by the Potochnik family!! On behalf of myself and family, I want to express my gratitude for the article about my Grandparents and offer my condolences to the family loss!!
Marcia Gilbert
November 4, 2024
Maria, I am so sorry that this lovely woman has left this world. My deepest sympathies to you and your family.
Sue Flores
November 2, 2024
Love and admiration for this amazing lady!
Karen Lewis
October 29, 2024
I was honored to know June through Maria. Such a light and beautiful heart. It was always a joy to see her beauty shine through her welcoming smile
Roy Tennant
October 28, 2024
I love the picture of her when she was young. Such a great soul.
Pat Egenberger
October 28, 2024
June always had a warm, welcoming smile for Leroy and me. She lived a life of love, joy, and service.
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