John J. Potel, age 84, a resident of Wyndemere Retirement Community in Wheaton, formerly of Oak Brook Terrace, died Thursday, October 7 at the Wynscape Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. He was born on August 3, 1926 in Chicago to John and Caroline Potel.

John graduated from Kelvyn Park High School in Chicago and served in the U.S. Air Force at the end of WWII. He went on to graduate from the University of Illinois with a degree in business administration. He worked for many years for Xerox Corporation where he served as a branch manager and a regional major account manager until retirement in 1981. He then founded a specialty advertising firm, Creative Enterprises.

John loved to fly and was a general aviation pilot. He loved to play tennis, golf, pool, bridge and bowling. He enjoyed travel and especially the beach. He was active in the Wyndemere Residents' Association where he served as an officer and the finance chairman for several years. He also had served as the president of the Men's Association at Lexington Square of Elmhurst. Most of all, he loved people and was always ready with a story or joke.

He is survived by his wife Susan, his son, Michael (Cathy Frantz) Potel of Los Altos Hills, CA, step-children, Sandra (Lee) Prichard of West Chicago, and Bradford White of Wheaton, his sister, Caroline (James) Frohlich of Tempe, AZ and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Patricia nee Domack and his parents.

A memorial visitation will be held from 1:30 p.m. until the time of a memorial service at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, October 17th at Anderson Auditorium at Wyndemere Retirement Community, 200 Wyndemere Circle, Wheaton, IL.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the CNS Hospice of DuPage, 690 E. North Ave., Carol Stream, IL 60188, or First Presbyterian Church of Wheaton, Carlton St., Wheaton, IL 60187 or Wyndemere Residents' Association, 200 Wyndemere Circle, Wheaton, IL 60187.