Fish-Potter, Genevieve G.

Genevieve G. Fish-Potter passed away Saturday, Nov. 21, 2009, at Madonna Towers, Rochester, Minn. Due to the ongoing construction at All Saints Church, the Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, Dec. 11, at St. Matthew's Church in Cedar Rapids. Visitation will be one hour before the mass at the church. Friends and relatives are invited to a luncheon immediately following the mass at the church. A private family burial will be held at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Cedar Rapids.

Gen was born in Wagner, S.D., on Dec. 10, 1919, to Edward and Mary (Crotty) Kelly. Her family moved to Iowa in the early 1930s. Her family farmed near Vinton, Iowa until approximately 1950. Gen moved to Cedar Rapids in the fall of 1937, graduating from Paris Beauty Academy the following year. She married Ken Fish in June 1941 in Cedar Rapids. He later died in 1975. The couple opened Gen & Ken's Beauty Shop in 1948 at 1600 B Ave. NE. The business eventually relocated to 2011 Linn Blvd. SE. Gen worked as a hairdresser in that business until her retirement in 1987 at the age of 68. She was blessed with a capable staff of employees and many loyal customers over the years. She was an active member of the Cedar Rapids Cosmetology chapter during most of her 50-year work career.

Throughout her life Gen enjoyed preparing large family dinners, gardening and canning all kinds of produce in the fall. Gen and Ken belonged to the Merry-Mix dance club early in their marriage. The highlight of their summer was taking a family vacation in northern Minnesota when possible. They joined All Saints Parish in 1966.

Gen met and married Melvin Potter in the fall of 1978. Gen and Melvin were active members of the “Dominic Club,” a social group for single adults, including widows and widowers. Each of them made a number of new, lifelong friendships through this organization. Although Melvin continued to farm after their marriage, they seldom missed “Dominic” social activities, especially the dances. They enjoyed traveling throughout the county to visit children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Participation in periodic “Kelly” family reunions, usually in California, represented a special highlight.

Gen moved to Garnett Place assisted living residence in 1998. After her husband Melvin's death in 2000, she moved to Madonna Towers, an assisted living residence in Rochester, Minn., to be closer to her family. She lived at Madonna Towers for the remainder of her life, making new friends and receiving loving care as she dealt with an increasing number of health issues.

Gen is survived by her four children and their spouses, Frank W. and Marilyn (Rooney) Fish, Naperville, Ill., Kenneth A. and Janet (Stevens) Fish, Morehead City, N.C., David B. and Dianne (Carver) Fish, Chippewa Falls, Wis., and Margaret “Peg” and Jack Fish-Johnson, Chatfield, Minn. In addition, Gen is survived by 15 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; her two sisters, Virginia Cashman, Santa Barbara, Calif., and Bernadine Novotny, San Luis Obispo, Calif.; and her brother, Noel Kelly, Ojai, Calif.

Gen was preceded in death by her parents, Edward and Mary Kelly; her first husband, Kenneth W. Fish; her second husband, Melvin A. Potter; five sisters and four brothers.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Madonna Towers, Rochester, Minn.

Ranfranz and Vine Funeral Homes, 5421 Royal Pl. NW, Rochester, MN (507) 289-3600;