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BORN
1952
DIED
2020
Richard Potter Obituary
Nekoosa - Rick Potter, 67, of Nekoosa, passed away unexpectantly on Tuesday, April 14th at Wausau Aspirus Hospital.
Mr. Potter was born Nov. 1952, in Wisconsin Rapids. He married Sandra M. DeByl on August 14, 1999. He lived most of his life in Wisconsin Rapids working as a K-12 school counselor for over 20 years. He was well liked by and did a lot of good for many children.
He enlisted in the Navy in 1981 and served as a Naval Flight Officer until 1984. His military service and cross country bicycle trip from the east coast to the west coast were important accomplishments for him in his life.
Rick loved nature and valued the environment. He was an active member and contributor to the Port Edwards Lions Club, air and water quality groups, and wildlife rehab, especially the Raptor Education Group in Antigo. Rick was instrumental in helping to establish solar panels on the McMillan Library roof.
Rick was a very kind and generous man. His way of living his life was to do no harm and to leave the world a better place. He loved to read and learn and was always there for people who needed help. Rick was generous in his life and he was generous in his death. As an organ donor he has already helped to save at least one life. His donations will help to improve the quality and length of life for others.
Rick was predeceased by his father Raymond and sister Sandra. Survivors of his immediate family include his wife, Sandra "Sam" DeByl, his mother Betty Ann Potter, his brother Michael Potter (Linda), and sister Linda Freund (Michael Murray).
Also several wonderful nieces and nephews and their children.
A celebration of life will be held at a future date. Also a memorial will be established by his family at a later time. Rick will be missed.
Mid Wisconsin Cremation Society is assisting family at this time. Online condolences may be expressed at www.HonorOne.com
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Richard Potter
Sponsored by the Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune.
Kim Kosik
April 23, 2020
Sam,
I'm so sorry to hear of Rick's sudden passing. He will be missed.
Jena Vruwink Skerven
April 22, 2020
I attended Rudolph Elementary in the late 90's/early 00's. Mr. Potter was very loved by his students. Some of my favorite memories include when he'd come to our classrooms with his giant jar of pickles, ready to play pickle bingo, and hearing stories of his "pet" raccoons. He was a very special, kind person who touched the lives of so many. Very sorry for your loss.
David Kuschel
April 21, 2020
Remebering, when Rick and I went to Madison to celebrate walkers recall. We had as well as many others had went out into the bitter cold to have people sign the petitions.He was the man for the cause.
Zach Vruwink
April 21, 2020
Sam, Im deeply sorry for your sudden loss. As you know, Ricks many passions for a better and more sustainable world have been and will continue to be an inspiration for me (and countless others). He left his mark in so many ways and cannot fathom his loss. His legacy lives on. Sincerely, Zach
David Gorski
April 21, 2020
Rick was a very caring friend, and one of the most dedicated environmental activist in Central Wisconsin. He dedicated his time and financial resources to preserving our earth for future generations. He took on the job of treasurer for Clean Green Action of Wisconsin Rapids (a job most people won't do ). I have two vivid memories of Rick.
Rick had purchased large quantities of blankets, hand and foot warmers, dry food, and other supplies for the Dakota Access Pipeline protesters at the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota. These supplies were badly needed as freezing temperatures and a major winter storm was about to hit an estimated 5,000 camping protesters. After our second night at the camp the storm hit. It forced us to pack up and head out before the highways closed for days. Rick had some untimely bad luck.
Rick's SUV would not start, and he had no choice but to leave it at the camp. Luckily a good friend of ours Mark Holbrook was also at the camp and had room for us in his SUV. Our departure from the camp was delayed by about three hours because a bus full of Veterans leaving the camp had slid off the road. After the bus was on the road again, we started on our 60 mile 6 hour ride to Bismark under extremely icy road conditions add a whiteout blizzard. While many cars slid off the road; Mark ,a Vietnam War helicopter pilot, had the nerves and driving skills to get us to Bismark without leaving the road. We were lucky get find a place to stay in Bismark where we were detained for about 30 hours. Rick insisted on paying for our room.
My second memory was helping Rick with his Clean Green Action road clean up project. Rick organized a cleanup crew for a two mile stretch of Highway Z from the Sportsman Bar toward Nekoosa. Originally, the project was scheduled for late April. However, a late April snow storm forced Rick to reschedule the cleanup for the first weekend in May. Not only did the group pickup hundreds of pounds of trash, we donated what seemed like pints of blood to the mosquito swarms that kept us company. Rick bought our crew of 8 pizza at the Sportsman.
From solar panels at the Library, butterfly gardens around town, braving blizzards to help water warriors, to fighting off swarms of biting insect to clean the environment, Rick is remembered by hundreds who knew him as a generous hands on environmental advocate.
Thanks Rick
Mary Dahm
April 21, 2020
I was saddened to learn that Rick had died. He was a kind and generous man. He kept our Clean Green Action group updated on environmental issues and organized our highway clean up group. Meetings will not be the same.
Gail Kretschmer
April 21, 2020
I always admire and respected Rick for his passion of protecting our environment and community. We had some good laughs and his smile was comforting. He had an inquisitive mind and knew how to ask hard questions with tactfulness. He was an asset to the community of Saratoga. I knew him through the organizations of Protect Wood County & Its Neighbors and Clean Green in Wisconsin Rapids. He volunteered a lot. He will be missed. May peace be with you Sam through this difficult time.
David Farmbrough
April 21, 2020
I'm so sorry to hear that Rick has died. I'll remember him as an activist, donor, and friend. He campaigned tirelessly for causes he believed in and was very generous to McMillan Memorial Library. My deepest sympathies.
Joe Ancel
April 21, 2020
Rick was an invaluable member of Clean Green Action and the Wisconsin Rapids community. His efforts on behalf of the environment and social justice made the world a better place. He will be missed.
Pete Gliniecki
April 21, 2020
Rick was the catalyst for me to meet my neighbor, Pat Murphy, when he fell while clearing snow off of her roof. Thanks, Rick.
Ronda Stoffel
April 20, 2020
I was sorry to hear about Ricks sudden passing. I am sorry for your loss. Rick and I were school counselor colleagues for many years. He was a very unique person with a passion for many worthy causes. He be sadly missed.
Ronda Stoffel
April 20, 2020
I was sorry to hear about Ricks sudden passing. I am sorry for your loss. Rick and I were counselor colleagues for many years. He was a very unique person with a passion for many worthy causes. He be sadly missed.
Angela West Blank
April 20, 2020
Rick was a great friend and supporter of Wisconsin Conservation Voters. I will always remember his helpfulness and concern for Wisconsin's environment.
Laura Lokken
April 20, 2020
Rick was a wonderful person. He was the guidance counselor for both of my kids and helped build the Growing Friends Community Garden. Rick even built and donated an Aldo Leopold bench which is still used by the gardeners when they need a place to sit and take a break. He was so helpful in so very many ways and will be missed. You have my deepest sympathy.
Kirsten Martindale
April 20, 2020
Im so sorry to hear of Ricks passing. I hope the wonderful memories you have will give you strength in the days ahead.
Margie Dorshorst
April 20, 2020
I am so sorry for you loss. I worked with Rick at Grove School and remember his kindness and unique and fun humor. May you find comfort knowing the amazing impact he made on so many.
Pam Aughey
April 20, 2020
So sorry for your loss Sam.
Rick was a very nice guy.
So unexpected! You are in my prayers!
Dan McGlynn
April 19, 2020
Rick was a school counseling colleague, and someone who I worked with on multiple political campaigns. Rick worked hard for causes he believed in, and many of us witnessed that over a long period of time. He will be missed and remembered . . . my condolences to the entire family.
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