Onalee I. Potter

Onalee passed away Thursday, January 22, 2026, at her home in Kalamazoo. 

She was born March 1, 1938, in Kalamazoo, the daughter of Edward and Ruby (Price) Ordiway. Onalee graduated from Otsego High School in 1956 and as a young woman worked at Harding’s. While raising her family she helped on the family farm and vineyard. She helped grow grapes that were sold to Warner Vineyard in Paw Paw. 

In her later years, she enjoyed knitting, crocheting and tending to her flower and vegetable gardens. She loved caring for her cats and over the years had cut a lot of firewood. Her true gift was hospitality. She lived to feed people, and she knew she was good at it. On June 28, 1954, in Kalamazoo, she married Sherman Potter who passed away in 2018. 

Surviving are her sons, Sherman (Vanessa) Potter and Ken Potter; 10 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren. 

She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; daughter, Dawn Potter-Williams and siblings, Jay, Raymond, Dorothy and Helen. 

Friends may visit with Onalee’s family starting at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Winkel Funeral Home, Otsego, until the time of the funeral service at 11:00 A.M., with Pastor Ray Brown officiating. 

Burial will follow at Alamo Center Cemetery. 

Contributions in memory of Onalee may be directed to Rose Arbor Hospice. 

Messages of condolence may be posted at www.WinkelFuneralHome.com.