Lloyd Kenneth Pottratz

Lloyd Kenneth “Moses” Pottratz, 85, passed away peacefully on September 27th, surrounded by family in Davenport, Iowa, after a long battle with cancer and a series of health issues. 

He was born September 16, 1937, in New Albin, Iowa, the son of Floyd and Rita (O’Donnell) Pottratz. He graduated from New Albin High School and enlisted in the Navy reserves from 1955-57. In 1959, he married Patricia Mousel, and together they raised five children: Korene (Tom) Crippes; Bethany (Doug) Ocar; Kelly (Jason) Swanson; Sean (Erin) Pottratz, and Marc (Craven) Pottratz. 

Lloyd began his work in the financial world with King Loan. In 1973, he branched out and founded Lloyd’s Plan, Inc., which allowed him the opportunity to serve many people in the community with personal and business loans as well as a seemingly endless supply of Tootsie Rolls. 

In 1989, Lloyd married the love of his life, Judith Kellenberger. Together, Judith’s daughters Tory (Jeff) Dohrn and Erin Pottratz, joined to make a close clan of 7.  In turn, eleven grandchildren (Rachael Brust, Jacob Crippes, Joe Crippes, Paige Crippes, Elizabeth Ocar, Lucie Swanson, Anthony Pottratz, Payton Pottratz, Mitchell Pottratz, Noah Dohrn, and Andrew Dohrn) as well as two great-grandchildren (James Crippes and Vera Pottratz) have the honor of calling him “Papa.”

By 1996, Lloyd and Judith attempted to escape the brood of children that forever returned to the nest by becoming “snow-birds” in Goodyear, Arizona. This attempt failed as their children and grandchildren sought their company and escape from the cold northern climate every spring break. 

For the past 60 years, he had a passion for memorializing important moments on film, ensuring his family would always have memories and entertainment to share.  Further, because Lloyd always cherished traditions, the family met every summer in Okoboji, Iowa, where they enjoyed karaoke, shared meals, kickball, ping pong, and the worst putt-putt golf course in the history of the game. 

When he wasn’t cheering his beloved Iowa Hawkeyes, one of his other favorite pastimes was watching and feeding his birds, and he always had a seed buffet for them right outside his window. 

Lloyd was best known for his smiling eyes, practical jokes (especially getting his ear pierced at the age of 84!), contagious laugh, generous spirit, hard work, strong faith, and immense compassion. His super-power was making everyone in his life feel loved and valued. Although he donated to a number of charities, his most important giving was of his time. He volunteered at the Perryville Prison in Arizona and the Cerebral Palsy Association here in the Quad Cities and shared his love of Christ as a member of the Knights of Columbus, Eucharist minister at churches in both Arizona and Iowa, and he participated in C.E.W at St. Paul’s for many years. 

He is survived by wife Judy Pottratz, sisters Angela Lager, Becky Andresen and Christie Lampert as well as brothers Bob Pottratz and Dennis Pottratz and many nieces and nephews who dearly loved him. Lloyd is preceded in death by parents Rita and Floyd Pottratz, mother-in-law Venita Willits, brother Tom Pottratz, and grandson Joseph Patrick Crippes.

The visitation will be held at Halligan McCabe DeVries Funeral Home on Sunday, October 2 from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm; rosary begins promptly at 3:00. The Funeral Mass will be held on Monday, October 3, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Paul the Apostle Catholic Church. The Mass will be livestreamed by visiting St. Paul the Apostle Facebook In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations in support of St. Paul the Apostle Catholic School or The Handicap Development Center.