Diana "Diane" Pottorff

Diana "Diane" Pottorff, 92, of Sioux City, IA, passed away peacefully on July 16, 2026 at Sunrise Retirement Community where she had been a resident for many years. A memorial service will be held at St. Luke Lutheran Church on Thursday, July 30, 2026 at 11:00 a.m. with family present prior to the service for visitation starting at 10:00 a.m. Burial will be at Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Waterbury Funeral Service of Sioux City.

Diane was born on May 29, 1934 to John and Mary Maurer at the Methodist Hospital in Sioux City, IA. She attended numerous grade schools, West Junior, and Central High School. She married Paul Pottorff on August 11, 1950 in Elk Point, SD. Though they divorced later, they were blessed with three children: Angela, Michael, and Dennis. Diane was a stay at home mom when the children were young and spent countless hours volunteering as a Girl Scout leader, Den Mother, VBS teacher, and serving on PTA committees.

She entered the work force later in life and worked as a secretary at St. Mark Lutheran Church for several years, and at Western Hills AEA for 24 years in the Special Education Division before retiring. Family, her beloved dogs, and flower gardening were the things that brought her the most joy. She loved family get-togethers, spending time with her grandchildren and attending their activities. She also enjoyed reading, baking, knitting, and needlework. Her grandchildren were all recipients of beautiful afghans and Christmas stockings that she made for them.

Diane was a member of St Luke Lutheran Church for more than 60 years. During that time she was a member of the Altar Guild, the Kitchen Committee, and the Circle of Friends. She also helped start the Social Ministry Committee and for many years was in charge of the annual Giving Tree, which was so rewarding for her. Following her retirement she spent time volunteering at Whittier School both with the Food4Kids Program and in several first grade classrooms. Her primary role was to encourage and listen to children read (and she loved every minute of it!) An avid knitter, she provided a pair of mittens and home baked cookies for each child in the classroom at Christmas.

Those left to honor her memory are her daughter, Angie (Rick) Schneider of Prior Lake, MN and sons Mike (Julie) Pottorff and Dennis Pottorff of Sioux City; grandchildren Nick (Kathy) Schneider of Bloomington, MN; Christie (Stuart) Ness of Albert Lea, MN; Lindsey (Eric) Bailey of Cedar Falls, IA; Jayson Pottorff, Matthew (Jennifer) Pottorff, and Joshua (Lauren Bean) Pottorff all of Sioux City; and 13 great- grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Maurer, a daughter-in-law, Pam Pottorff, and her faithful companions: Bandit, Beauty, Winnie, and Bella.

The family is especially grateful for the compassionate care provided by both the assisted living and Bernstein Memory Care neighborhood staff members at Sunrise Retirement Community for the past five years, and to the St. Croix Hospice team during her final months.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to St. Luke Lutheran Church – Social Ministry Committee/ Food Pantry or Noah’s Hope Animal Rescue.

If there are no dogs in heaven, then when I die I want to go where they went. —Anonymous