Robert POTTER

04/16/1927 - 08/09/2015

POTTER, Robert (Age 88) Bob Potter was born April 16, 1927 in Ogden, Utah and passed away peacefully August 9, 2015 at his home in Hayden Lake, Idaho. He was 88 years old. After growing up on a dairy farm in Ogden, Bob enlisted in the Marine Corp and served his country at home and abroad in Nagasaki, Japan. He attended Weber State College and the University of Utah. Bob moved to Southern California in the early 1950's and went to work for Pacific Bell Telephone Company where he met his wife of 60 years, Patricia Mary Krupp. They were married on February 14, 1953. Bob and Pat have two children, Bo and Pam. The family made several moves across country to support Bob's career and lived in Redondo Beach, California, Lafayette, California, Basking Ridge and Bernardsville, New Jersey as well as San Francisco, California. Bob worked for the telephone company until the time he retired from AT&T as a Vice President of Sales. He was revered by all at the company as evidenced by his grand retirement party that filled all of the ballrooms of the Hyatt Regency Hotel in San Francisco. Retirement was short lived for Bob and Patti after they moved to Hayden Lake, Idaho to be near their daughter Pam. He was soon recruited to be the first president of Jobs Plus, an economic development agency here in Coeur D'Alene. He loved his work and was successful in recruiting many companies to the area. He was active in several organizations including the Rotary Club and various local and state economic development groups. He was a member of St. Pius X Catholic Church and the Hayden Lake Country Club. Over the years, Bob was recognized for his work in so many ways. Among his favorites were the Coeur d'Alene Chamber of Commerce's Citizen of the year award in 2002, the two commendations that were entered into congressional record in 2002 and 2003 and most recently his induction into the Idaho's Hall of Fame. Bob lectured across the country on his knowledge of economic development and appeared in many newspapers throughout the U.S. Articles about him appeared in several magazines including Forbes, Time, and Inc. Bob loved Notre Dame football, boating on the lake, golfing, hunting, fishing, reading, gardening and spending quality time with his family and his many dear and wonderful friends. His grandchildren have so many fond memories of summers on Hayden Lake with "Grandpa Bob." He was a wonderful storyteller, entertainer, role model and friend to them. He was welcomed to heaven by his beloved wife, Patricia Krupp Potter, his father, Clifford S. Potter and mother, Evelyn Bircher Potter. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Clifford "Bud" Potter and sisters, Mildred Horton and Mary Reynier. He is survived by his son, Robert "Bo" Potter of Andover, Ohio and his daughter, Pamela Potter Yusko of Olympia, Washington, four grandchildren, Michael Yusko, Matthew Yusko, Anna Yusko, and Marie Potter. The memorial mass for Bob will be 10:00 am Monday, August 17, 2015 at St. Pius X Catholic Church, 625 E. Haycraft Ave., Coeur D'Alene with Yates Funeral Home in care of the arrangements. Donations can be made to The Leukemia And Lymphoma Society at www.lls.org. You may visit Bob's memorial and sign his online guestbook at www.yatesfuneralhomes.com. YATES FUNERAL HOME, Coeur d'Alene, ID