IN LOVING MEMORY OF
Kenneth
Potterton
August 30, 1929 – January 4, 2025
Obituary
Kenneth W. Potterton, 95, known by many as Coach, peacefully passed away on January 4, surrounded by his loving and cherished family. He was born on August 30, 1929, on the kitchen table of his home in Milwaukee, WI to Wilbur and Esther Potterton.
His legacy is rooted in his generosity and skills as an educator, mentor, and multi-sport coach. Honored to hold these positions, he took his work seriously but never himself. He valued honesty and compassion. He led with kindness. He saw opportunity in even the toughest losses. He believed in the inherent goodness in people and invited others to do the same.
Born a natural athlete, Ken pursued his talents at UW-La Crosse, obtaining an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and a Master's in statistics. While there, he was a beloved friend, fraternity member, and teammate, serving meals to the community at a local diner. Here, he met the love of his life, Marie (Molstad) Potterton, whom he called upon and escorted home from a dance one evening. They were happily married for 72 years.
They say that when you love your job, you never work a day in your life, which was true for Ken. He taught Phys Ed, was the department head, and coached in the Oshkosh School District at the original high school, Webster Stanley Jr. High, and Oshkosh West High School. He was also an avid supporter of Camp Hiwela, accompanying his girls for many years and lending a hand wherever needed. Watching him with a golf club, on a sideline, or feeding a young person's potential was a masterclass in motion. Many former students and players credit his guidance, counsel, and fairness as the building blocks for their leadership and success.
In retirement, he could be found teaching his peers skills in the gym at the Oshkosh Senior Center, traveling around the world, finding a new golf course to conquer, watching the Packers, Badgers, or a grandchild's sporting event, helping out in various ways at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh, visiting an ailing friend, or tending to his beautiful gardens.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Potterton; two daughters, Pamela (Howard) Moody, Braselton, GA, and Penny (Kevin) Buckley, Appleton, WI; grandchildren, Kyle (Laura) Moody, Jonathan (Amy) Moody, Rachel Buckley, and Lauren (Kaleb) Buckley-Williams, adored him, as did his five great-grandchildren and niece Lisa (Mark) Hilgendorf and her children, Green Bay. His parents; brother, Harold; in-laws, Earl and Ethel Molstad; and niece, Sandra Potterton preceded him to Heaven.
To pay respects to Coach Ken's memory, he and his family would ask you to take a child to a driving range/golf course/basketball game, get out in the driveway for a game of horse, work on a collaborative zigsaw puzzle, or turn on a Packer game and cheer like nobody's watching.
His family extends their love and appreciation to the remarkable staff at Primrose Retirement Community, Silverlace Memory Care, and Moments Hospice in Appleton.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date.
Don't forget:
somewhere between
hello and goodbye,
there was love,
so much love.
His legacy is rooted in his generosity and skills as an educator, mentor, and multi-sport coach. Honored to hold these positions, he took his work seriously but never himself. He valued honesty and compassion. He led with kindness. He saw opportunity in even the toughest losses. He believed in the inherent goodness in people and invited others to do the same.
Born a natural athlete, Ken pursued his talents at UW-La Crosse, obtaining an undergraduate degree in Physical Education and a Master's in statistics. While there, he was a beloved friend, fraternity member, and teammate, serving meals to the community at a local diner. Here, he met the love of his life, Marie (Molstad) Potterton, whom he called upon and escorted home from a dance one evening. They were happily married for 72 years.
They say that when you love your job, you never work a day in your life, which was true for Ken. He taught Phys Ed, was the department head, and coached in the Oshkosh School District at the original high school, Webster Stanley Jr. High, and Oshkosh West High School. He was also an avid supporter of Camp Hiwela, accompanying his girls for many years and lending a hand wherever needed. Watching him with a golf club, on a sideline, or feeding a young person's potential was a masterclass in motion. Many former students and players credit his guidance, counsel, and fairness as the building blocks for their leadership and success.
In retirement, he could be found teaching his peers skills in the gym at the Oshkosh Senior Center, traveling around the world, finding a new golf course to conquer, watching the Packers, Badgers, or a grandchild's sporting event, helping out in various ways at First Presbyterian Church in Oshkosh, visiting an ailing friend, or tending to his beautiful gardens.
He is survived by his wife, Marie Potterton; two daughters, Pamela (Howard) Moody, Braselton, GA, and Penny (Kevin) Buckley, Appleton, WI; grandchildren, Kyle (Laura) Moody, Jonathan (Amy) Moody, Rachel Buckley, and Lauren (Kaleb) Buckley-Williams, adored him, as did his five great-grandchildren and niece Lisa (Mark) Hilgendorf and her children, Green Bay. His parents; brother, Harold; in-laws, Earl and Ethel Molstad; and niece, Sandra Potterton preceded him to Heaven.
To pay respects to Coach Ken's memory, he and his family would ask you to take a child to a driving range/golf course/basketball game, get out in the driveway for a game of horse, work on a collaborative zigsaw puzzle, or turn on a Packer game and cheer like nobody's watching.
His family extends their love and appreciation to the remarkable staff at Primrose Retirement Community, Silverlace Memory Care, and Moments Hospice in Appleton.
A private family memorial will be held at a later date.
Don't forget:
somewhere between
hello and goodbye,
there was love,
so much love.
To order memorial trees or send flowers to the family in memory of Kenneth Potterton, please visit our flower store.
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