F. Thomas Pottratz

F. Thomas Pottratz, 81, of Carmel, passed away on February 11, 2017. Born in New Albin, Iowa on July 25, 1935, the son of Floyd and Rita (O’Donnell) Pottratz, where he grew up on a dairy farm. In 1955, he graduated from Iowa State University with a degree in zoology on an ROTC scholarship. He married June Ann Spinner in New Albin, Iowa on December 27, 1956 and was married until her passing on January 5, 2016.

Upon graduation from Iowa State, he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant in the Marine Corps where he was honorably discharged in June 1958. Shortly thereafter, he started his 30+ year career at Sandoz Pharmaceuticals (now Novartis), where he won several national sales awards.

Tom has been extensively involved in the pro-life movement for several decades. Upon retirement from Sandoz, he volunteered at the Pro-Life office of the Archdiocese of Indianapolis for many years. He also served as a board member of the Indianapolis Right to Life and Catholic Radio Indy. He has received the archdiocese’s Archbishop O’Meara Respect Life Award and the Charles Stimming Pro-Life Award from Right to Life of Indianapolis in recognition of his countless volunteer hours protecting the right to life. He also helped organize and chaperone several of the Indianapolis archdiocesan youth pilgrimages to Washington, D.C. for the annual March for Life.

He was a member of St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church, a 4th degree Knight of Columbus, and a Knight of the Holy Sepulcher. Survivors include his beloved companion and bridge partner, Marge Eppink; his six sons, Bryan (Becky) Pottratz of Silver City, NM; Bill (Kathy) Pottratz of Madison, AL; Scott (Theresa) Pottratz of Tybee Island, GA; John (Michele) Pottratz of Boulder, CO; David (Alison) Pottratz of Lake Jackson, TX; and Michael (Wendy) Pottratz of Carmel IN; three brothers, Lloyd Pottratz, Robert Pottratz, and Dennis Pottratz; and his three sisters Angela Lager, Becky Andresen, and Christy Lampert. He is also survived by nineteen grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

The visitation will be at Flanner and Buchanan-Carmel, on Thursday, February 16, 2017, starting with a prayer service at 3:30 and concluding at 7:30 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Friday, February 17, 2017 at 10:30, at St. Elizabeth Seton Catholic Church. He will be interred on February 20, 2017 at St. Joseph Cemetery, New Albin, IA. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made in his memory to the Women’s Care Center of Indianapolis or the Right to Life of Indianapolis. Online condolences and fond memories may be left at www.flannerbuchanan.com.