Duane Alvin Potter, 94, died Jan. 10, 2015, at Hackensack, Minn. He was born Nov. 9, 1920, in Hugo, Colo., the son of Joseph Clinton and Elsa Patricia (Richardson) Potter. He grew up on a dairy farm and graduated from Hugo High School. He married Rosemary Weber on Nov. 18, 1943. After 69 years of marriage, she preceded him in death on Feb. 6, 2013. He was a U.S. Army veteran having served in World War II including the Battle of the Bulge. After serving his country, he made his home in Great Bend. For many years he was a service station owner operating P and H Services, Duane’s Cities Service, Duane’s Citgo and Duane’s Gulf. Potter retired as a courier for Security State Bank.
     He was a longtime member of the VFW.
     He leaves a living legacy of two sons, Joe Potter and his wife, Margaret, of Great Bend, Mike Potter and his wife, Cindy, of Olathe; and two daughters, Kathy Turgeon and her husband, Bill, of Hackensack, Minn., and Jennifer Schartz and her husband, Shannon, of Great Bend; 12 grandchildren, Amanda Turgeon of Boise, Idaho, Matt and Jeni Turgeon of Durango, Colo., Michelle and Troy Brodie, of Mason, Ohio, Angela and Wes Meitner of Great Bend, Kelly and Jeremy VanDeventer of Lee’s Summit, Mo., Jeff and Christine Potter of Topeka, Jay and Nicole Potter of Manhattan, Joel Potter and companion Lara Polangco of Cleveland, Ga., Ashley and Adam Azeltine of Olathe, Melanie Lewis of Great Bend, Dane Schartz of Independence, Mo., and Brianna Schartz of Great Bend; and fifteen great-grandchildren, Jia Li Turgeon, Blake Brodie and his wife Jordyn, Aaron Brodie, Taylor Meitner, Braden Meitner, Sidney Meitner, Jessica VanDeventer, Lisa VanDeventer, Jayvin VanDeventer, Kiana VanDeventer, Lilia Potter, Kyla Potter, Raya Potter, Declan Lewis and Delaney Lewis. He was preceded in death by one brother, Albert Potter, and three granddaughters, Suzanne Potter, Kristin Potter and Kimberly Faber.
     Duane’s son-in-law, Bill Turgeon, wrote a book titled “Answering the Bell,” which chronicled his life. The book summarized it like this:
     “Duane didn’t lead a perfect life, and he didn’t achieve fame or fortune. But he persevered. He got up each morning and went to work.  He took care of his family. He lived within his means. And, as a young man, he stepped forward to serve his country when it called him.
     “He did what he knew he was supposed to do. He never thought about it all that much, and he never worried about it. He ‘answered the bell’ his whole life because that is what a good citizen, husband, father, and working man does.
     “Members of the Greatest Generation like Duane and Rosemary remind us that duty to family and duty to country count. And that faith, hard work, self-responsibility, thrift, courage, and perseverance count. These are the things that help make happiness possible. These are the things that bear fruit in our golden years.
     “These are the bells that sound for everyone.”
     Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 17, at Bryant Funeral Home, Great Bend. The Rev. Curtis Reinhardt will officiate. Burial will be in Great Bend Cemetery. Friends may  call from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., with the family receiving friends from 6-8 p.m., Friday at the funeral home. Memorials are suggested to the Barton County Veterans Memorial, in care of the funeral home. Notice may viewed and condolences sent to www.bryantfh.net.

Funeral arrangements provided by
Bryant Funeral Home**
1425 Patton Road
Great Bend, KS 67530
Great Bend (Kan.) Tribune, Jan. 13, 2015