Obituary of Glenn R. Potter Jr.

On September 12, 2023, we lost the patriarch of our loving family, Glenn R. Potter, Jr.

Glenn was a life long resident of Tiffin, Iowa and was born to Glen and Alice Potter on December 8, 1931, on Grant Street in Tiffin, during a snowstorm. Glenn married Doris Esther Jensen on January 25, 1956, and together they raised six children in Tiffin.

Glenn is survived by his six children: Micheal “Mick” (Julie Driscoll) Potter; Rhonda Potter; René (Donald) Warner; Judee (Robert) Reihman; Gina (Julius) Dusterhoft; Neil (Lori) Potter; his wife Carol (married 2000) and stepsons Terrance (Rita) Meade; Troy (Julie) Meade; and Ty (Melissa) Meade. Glenn and Carol share 16 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.

Glenn was preceded in death by his first wife Doris; his parents Glen and Alice Potter; his two sisters and their husbands, Dorothy (Glenn) Snider and Betty (Theodore) Spivey; his son-in-law Kirk Kaalberg; and his stepson Timothy Meade.

A hard worker from a very young age, Glenn started working for the railroad, laying ties while still in school.  He worked for one day shoveling coal, and decided that if it took two scoops of coal just to blow the whistle, that one day of that was enough! He joined the Navy on March 2, 1951, during the Korean War, and served on the U.S.S. Lipan and the U.S.S. Elkhorn. He was honorably discharged from the Navy on February 28, 1955.

After returning from his military service, Glenn worked for several years in the auto body business, eventually becoming a body shop manager at several shops in Iowa City. He then went to work as an insurance adjuster for Allstate, and later sold vehicles at Winebrenner Ford. Glenn finished his working days at Walmart, retiring at age 86. When asked why he waited so long to retire, Glenn stated “I’ve been working since I was a boy and it makes me feel useful and happy”.

Glenn dedicated much of his life to serving his community and the City of Tiffin. He spent 20 years as a city council member and volunteer fireman with the Tiffin Fire Department, then served as the mayor of Tiffin for the following 28 years. During his tenure as councilman and mayor, he was responsible for numerous grants that helped Tiffin become a desirable place to live, and growing the population from 300 to 2,000 residents. Some of his many accomplishments as council member and mayor included new city water and sewer systems, natural gas lines, the first city recycling program in Johnson County, flood relief in 1991 and 1993, derecho storm cleanup in 1998, the establishment of the Springmier Community Library, the annexation of the  I-80 exchange, a new Veteran’s Memorial, 8 new sub-divisions, a new 65 acre city park, two water and sewer treatment plants, two larger water towers, a fire station addition, a new 30 acre industrial park, the 2006 Tiffin Centennial celebration, and the annexation north to include Forevergreen Road and Roberts Ferry Road North. Glenn’s beloved city has now grown to over 6,700 residents. In recognition of his service, Glenn was presented with a key to the City of Tiffin on two occasions. He has both a city street and a city park named in his honor.

Glenn was a masterful storyteller, and known for his quick wit and dry sense of humor. He enjoyed playing many sports including baseball, basketball, boxing, ice and roller skating. He loved reading, fishing, mushroom hunting and playing cards. He was an avid Hawkeye sports fan, and a Packer backer. He was actively involved in his children’s activities, serving as a Cub Scout leader, 4H leader, and as president of the Clear Creek band parents group. His enduring love of sports and family resulted in him being given the honor of Superfan when his grand-daughter Keli played softball at Iowa City High, and he never missed a game. Glenn and Carol enjoyed many travels and adventures together in their golden years.  If you were to ask him, his greatest achievement was raising his six children to be loving, responsible, and hardworking adults. We will always love him, and are forever grateful to him. He touched the lives of many, and will be dearly missed.

Please join us in remembering and honoring Glenn’s legacy. A celebration of life will be held at Grace United Methodist Church in Tiffin, beginning at 11 am Saturday, September 23, 2023.  There will be a time of visitation beginning at 9:30 am until services on Saturday at the church.

To share a condolence with his family please visit Gay & Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service website @ www.gayandciha.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be directed to the Tiffin Fire Department and Tiffin First Responders.

The Potter and Meade families would like to thank the staff of Veterans Administration, The Bird House – Hospice Home of Johnson County and Iowa City Hospice for the compassionate end-of-life care given to our father and our family in his final days.