Jerome "Jerry" Potes , age 74, of Manistee, Michigan, died Friday, evening, December 24, 2021 at Munson Healthcare Manistee Hospital.

He was born on August n14, 1947 in Adrian, Michigan, son of the la Melvin and Elsie (Harcourt) Potes. He was a graduate of Madison High School in Adrian, Michigan with the class of 1965. He served in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War from August 17, 1966 until August 16, 1968. After his discharge for the Marine Corps, he attended Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Michigan for three years. Jerry married Patricia "Pati" Steinberg – Schafer in Negril, Jamacia on June 24, 2005. He was the plant manager at the Simplex Paper Company in Adrian, Michigan for twenty-five years. He later owned and operated the Arcadian Café in Arcadia, Michigan. Jerry then opened and operated Jerry's Resale Store in Benzonia, Michigan for twenty- seven years as well as Port City Resale Store for a number of years. He was a member of the Walsh Post #4499 VFW and the American Legion Post #10 both of Manistee, and a past member of the Manistee Golf and Country Club.

In his spare time Jerry, enjoyed traveling, camping, reading, taking walks, going to garage sales, going for early morning rides, watching television, working in his yard and eating out.

He is survived by his wife; Patricia "Pati" Potes of Manistee, two sons and daughters in-law; David and Elizabeth Potes of Santa Cruz, California, and Jason and Amy Potes of Kingsley, MI, his step-daughter Samantha Schafer and her fiancé Dan Harrison both of Manistee, three step-sons; Joshua (Liz) Schafer of Manistee, Beau (Barbara) Schafer of Traverse City, MI, and Noah Schafer and his fiancé, Monica Vasquez both of Manistee, his grandchildren; Olivia, Char, Hunter, Boe-Lilly, Axel, Henry, Haylee, Taylor, Jaelynn, Gage, Harper, Vicente, Eliana, Zebediah, Cruz, and Tyelur, two great grandchildren, his sister Cynthia Miller of Frankfort, MI. Several nieces and nephews also survive him.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother; Michael Melvin Potes, his brother in-law, David Miller and his granddaughter, Melanie Schafer.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, December 30, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Herbert Funeral Home in Manistee with Reverend Zeljko Guberovic officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Carmel Cemetery in Manistee, where graveside Military Honors will be given by the members of the Manistee County United Veterans Council Ritual Team. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Wednesday evening from 7:00 PM to 9:00 PM and on Thursday morning one hour prior to the funeral service.

"He did everything together with Pati"

The Herbert Funeral Home of Manistee is in charge of funeral arrangements.