Thomas H. Potes

Although Thomas Potes accomplished so many things of which to be proud, he was a humble man whose greatest source of pride and joy was found in the family he cherished most. He was a person of many passions and interests, but what made these things even better was sharing them with his family and friends. Tom was a mans man who was an outdoorsman through and through, but he was also gentle, generous, and loving, too. A loving husband and devoted father, there was nothing that he wouldnt do for his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. Tom was guided by an uncompromising set of morals and values, and he believed in being honest above all else. He created a timeless legacy that is deeply rooted in unwavering character, courageous strength, and unconditional love that will be carried on by those who follow in his footsteps. The 1930s were some of the most trying years in American history as the entire decade was cloaked in the hardship of the Great Depression. Jobs became scarce, which drove the unemployment rate to over 25 percent leaving families to do whatever they could to make ends meet. Despite the challenges around them, Trobert Herbert and Marguerite Lucile (Lemmon) Potes were able to shift their focus to an exciting time in their own lives as they welcomed a healthy baby boy into their hearts and home on April 30, 1934. Thomas H. was born on the kitchen table in the apartment over the butcher shop in Kalkaska where his father was a butcher. Weighing in at over nine pounds, he was a strapping young man right from the start. Thomas was the first of six boys in his family, joined by his brothers, Bill, Jack, Patrick, Bruce, and a baby brother who died shortly after birth. His mother worked as a cook, and Tom formed a lifelong love for cooking beginning in the days that he was cooking for his brothers. He became the man of the house when his father left when Tom was only 12. He helped look after his younger brothers while his mother worked, and he also helped tend the family garden. Tom began contributing to the household food source by hunting deer, and it made him so proud to help his mother out in this way. Tom attended Church of God where he was baptized and regularly attended services. Life was anything but easy as he worked hard from a young age, had few tangible possessions, and grew up in a home with only a wood stove for heat. It was Toms responsibility to stoke up the fire in the evening and in the morning before the younger ones got up. He took everything in stride, however, and found happiness in being with his family and many friends including Wayne Bowerman, Martin Woodhams, Alan Cross, and Cleson Rickman who were lifelong friends. He attended Kalkaska Elementary and Middle School and was a Boy Scout who worked all the way up to becoming an Eagle Scout. By the time he was in high school, it was clear that Tom had amazing skills as an athlete as he was a star basketball and baseball player. His coach at Kalkaska High, Ed Chalker, was instrumental in bringing Toms skills to their peak, and he also served as a father figure who guided him in sports and also in life. He went on to graduate from Kasky High in 1952. He was scouted by the Detroit Tigers and played as a catcher for about two years beginning a short time after he graduated. As a young man Tom continued working hard. He served his country in the United States Army during the Korean Conflict in the ASA Department where he intercepted SOS signals and deciphered them at the Hawaiian Army base for three years. During this time he also played for the Hawaiian Braves baseball team as catcher. Tom married a woman named Ann Pederson, and together they were blessed with the birth of their daughter, Margaret Ann, who was named for his mother and wife. As a father Tom was strict, but he was also loving and only wanted the best for his daughter. He took great pride in teaching his daughter to love and appreciate the outdoors. To support his family Tom worked as a carpenter and mason, and he also got into horse stable and arena boarding as well as training and showing horses in Traverse City among other places. As an adult Tom continued to pursue his love for hunting. He cherished being able to hunt with his brothers and uncles as it was as much about the hunting as it was about story telling and eating the venison from their hunt. As his family and friends can attest, Tom was a skilled marksman as he bagged a large mule deer out in Wyoming with a shot that traveled over 400 yards and across a canyon. The entire hunting party was a witness to this amazing event, and Tom couldnt have been more proud. He and his best friend, Leon Kaiser, made 36 hunting trips out to Wyoming for deer and elk, which were all successful trips. Tom continued his love for deer hunting and elk hunting and also fished on Traverse Bay. He smoked his catch to share with his friends while snowmobiling and racing, which were additional favorite outdoor activities. New and exciting changes were in store for Tom when he met Judy Curtis-Mango while in a restaurant having coffee in Traverse City. Sparks flew right from the start, and the rest is history as they say. Deeply in love, Tom and Judy were married on September 4, 1993. Tom then moved to Kingsley, and they enjoyed their life on their little farm where they kept busy gardening, canning, and growing flowers. They also hunted together, and Tom loved teaching her all the ins and outs of hunting and how to appreciate the beauty of the land, too. Being married to Judy brought out the best in Tom, and they were nearly inseparable. They took several hunting trips out West, and he was so proud when she bagged her first buck out there. After retiring in 1999, Tom had more time to spend outdoors. He kept busy hunting and fishing of course, but he also spent time gardening and watching both sports and westerns on television. Tom was rarely seen watching television without his remote control, also known as his clicker. He loved his stud horse, Mr. T, as well as his dog, Brandywine. Tom truly loved food as he never met a food he didnt love. A thoughtful, kindhearted, and generous man, Thomas Potes was a blessing to those around him. He was a no frills, salt of the earth sort of person who would have truly shined during the pioneer days. Resourceful, hardworking, and determined, Tom will be deeply missed but never forgotten. Thomas Potes died on Thursday, February 12, 2015. Toms family includes his wife, Judy; daughter, Margaret Potes of Grawn MI; stepdaughters, Lori (Dan) Bryant of Grand Haven, Carrie (Gene) Freeman of Xenia OH; stepson, John (Chastity) Margo of Ishpeming MI; 7 grandchildren; 1 great grandchild; brother, Patrick (Janet) Potes of Flushing MI; brothers-in-law, Criss Curtis of Grand Haven, Tom Curtis of Apple Valley CA; best friend and hunting buddy, Leon Kaiser of Kingsley MI. Tom was preceded in death by his parents and brothers, Bill, Jack & Bruce. A memorial service will be held on Monday, February 16, 2015, 1:00 p.m. at the Clock Chapel - Grand Haven with Rev. Jerald Poehl officiating. Please visit www.clockfuneralhome.com to leave a memory or sign the online guest book.