Msgr. Potthoff
August 25, 1918 — November 15, 2013
Msgr. Frederick E. Potthoff, 95, died at 12:08 a.m. at University Place, West Lafayette Friday November 15, 2013.
Born on Aug. 25, 1918, he was born to the late Frederick and Irene (Noll) Potthoff in Fort Wayne, Ind. He was preceded in death by two younger brothers.
Msgr. Potthoff attended St. Mary's Grade School; St. Jude School; and Central Catholic High School in Fort Wayne. He graduated from St. Lawrence Seminary in Wisconsin in 1938, and St. Meinrad Seminary, St. Meinrad, Ind., in 1944.
He was ordained on June 3, 1944, by Bishop John F. Noll in Fort Wayne four months before the Diocese of Lafayette-in-Indiana was formed.
His first assignment was as associate pastor at St. Mary Church, Anderson, and in 1948 he was named pastor of St. Ambrose Church, Anderson, while continuing at St. Mary's. In 1958, he became pastor of St. Mary's Cathedral where he served until his retirement in 1990. He was named a monsignor in 1959.
He was founding chaplain of the Lafayette Serra Club, and in 1978 he was named dean of the Lafayette deanery.
In retirement, he served on the governance board as well as the board of trustees of the Lafayette Catholic School System. In 1990, he was named a Sagamore of the Wabash by then-Gov. Evan Bayh, and was given a Marquis de Lafayette award for his years of service to the local community.
He is survived by his sister-in-law, Margaret Potthoff, and two nieces and nephews.
The Rosary will be recited at 4:30 P.M. Monday, followed by visitation from 5 until 8 P.M. at St. Mary's Cathedral in Lafayette. The Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral at 11:00 A.M. Tuesday, Bishop Timothy L. Doherty presiding, Bishop Emeritus William L. Higi, homilist, and priests of the Diocese of Lafayette in Indiana as concelebrants. Interment will follow the Mass in St. Mary's Cemetery in Lafayette.
Memorials may be made to the St. Mary's Cathedral Beautification Trust or Lafayette Area Catholic Schools Foundation.
Hahn-Groeber Funeral & Cremation Services, Inc. entrusted with the arrangements. Memories and condolences may be left at www.hahngroeberfuneralhome.com.