James E. Potter, 70, of Lincoln, died August 6, 2016 of a heart attack at Bryan East Medical Center. ‘Potter’ was born Sept. 28, 1945 in Kearney.
He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Gail DeBuse Potter, his 97-yearold mother Ruth (Dunn) Potter, two sisters Lisa (Jim Parish), North Platte, Lori Potter, Kearney and sister-law Lois Potter, Wilcox. Seven nieces, five nephews, and 17 grandnieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father, Dean, younger brother Glen, Uncle Howard Dunn, and grandparents.
He attended the University of Nebraska and graduated in 1967 with a degree is history. The military would not take him because had a hearing loss. One day in the fall of that year, he was walking by the Nebraska State Historical Society, went inside and asked if they had any openings. They hired him shortly thereafter. Potter is just shy of having worked with the Society for 49 years as the state archivist, Nebraska History editor, and senior research historian. He was written numerous articles, historical markers, two books on Nebraska in the Civil War, and most recently one on the Black Hills Council at Red Cloud Agency in 1875.
He loved history, motorcycles, shooting muzzleloaders, and his wife—probably in that order too. He liked nothing more than going to the Fort Atkinson Muzzleloaders range on the Elkhorn River and shooting. He has won matches at the state muzzleloading meet and at Cornhusker State Games. Motorcycle trips and canoe adventures were many.
Potter and Gail were married in 1975, took their honeymoon on a motorcycle to the Black Hills and Fort Robinson; they both worked at the Historical Society and lived in Lincoln. Gail left the Society in 1997 for a job with the Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron and Potter moved west and telecommuted his job in 2002. Gail retired at the end of 2014 and they returned to Lincoln and Potter continued to work. His dream was to have his retirement party and funeral on the same day.
Memorials to the Nebraska State Historical Society Foundation or the Museum of the Fur Trade.
Celebration of Life: Friday, August 12, 2016, 4-6:3 p.m. @ Windsor Stables, 1024 ‘L’ Street, Lincoln, NE.
One drink on Potter and the rest on you.