- Born on: February 6, 1962
- Departed on: December 16, 2025
- Resided in: Center Point, IA
Marnita Rae Gerhardt
Marnita Rae Gerhardt, 63, died on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at Hospice of Mercy surrounded by her family after an extended illness. Marnita was born in Oelwein, Iowa on February 6, 1962 to Rudolph and Shirley (Buhr) Potratz. She grew up in Tripoli with two sisters and five brothers. She went to Tripoli and Wapsie Valley High School where she was a pom pom girl. Marnita graduated in 1980.
She met her future husband, Paul, while he was a manager at the Readlyn Kwik Star. They married on May 10, 1985 in Waverly. They moved to Shell Rock, where they celebrated the birth of their son Aaron on November 7, 1986. Marnita went to a nursing school and worked in Shell Rock. Paul enlisted in the Air Force in 1988 and took Marnita and Aaron around the world with him. They lived on Air Force Bases in North Dakota, Germany, Montana, and California. Wherever they were, Marnita would take jobs on base at different stores while raising Aaron.
Paul unexpectedly passed away in California in 2006, while still enlisted in the Air Force. Marnita and Aaron then moved back to Iowa where she bought a house in Center Point. Marnita jumped in to help her family, taking three siblings into her home. She was a caretaker for her brother James and sister Michelle for over a decade. Marnita enjoyed the company of her partner for many years, Alan. She spent time on the road with Alan when he was a trucker and helped take care of him before he died in 2022. Marnita was always taking care of others and spoiling everyone in her life. She loved her family more than anything and would do anything for them. Marnita enjoyed spending time with her dogs and cats, *extra* spoiling her grandchildren, and drinking iced coffee. She loved angels and had a huge collection of them in her home.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley (1992); husband, Paul (2006); father, Rudolph (2017); and sister, Lorna (2020).
She is survived by her son, Aaron (Rebecca) Gerhardt of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Paisley, Onyx, and Emerald; sister Michelle Potratz of Marion and brothers Loren Potratz of Iowa City, Calvin Potratz of Iowa City, Kermit Potratz of North Carolina, James Potratz of Center Point, and Jeffrey Potratz of Center Point; niece Denise (Aaron) Brislawn of Center Point; great-niece Kailee and great-nephew Garrett.
She met her future husband, Paul, while he was a manager at the Readlyn Kwik Star. They married on May 10, 1985 in Waverly. They moved to Shell Rock, where they celebrated the birth of their son Aaron on November 7, 1986. Marnita went to a nursing school and worked in Shell Rock. Paul enlisted in the Air Force in 1988 and took Marnita and Aaron around the world with him. They lived on Air Force Bases in North Dakota, Germany, Montana, and California. Wherever they were, Marnita would take jobs on base at different stores while raising Aaron.
Paul unexpectedly passed away in California in 2006, while still enlisted in the Air Force. Marnita and Aaron then moved back to Iowa where she bought a house in Center Point. Marnita jumped in to help her family, taking three siblings into her home. She was a caretaker for her brother James and sister Michelle for over a decade. Marnita enjoyed the company of her partner for many years, Alan. She spent time on the road with Alan when he was a trucker and helped take care of him before he died in 2022. Marnita was always taking care of others and spoiling everyone in her life. She loved her family more than anything and would do anything for them. Marnita enjoyed spending time with her dogs and cats, *extra* spoiling her grandchildren, and drinking iced coffee. She loved angels and had a huge collection of them in her home.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Shirley (1992); husband, Paul (2006); father, Rudolph (2017); and sister, Lorna (2020).
She is survived by her son, Aaron (Rebecca) Gerhardt of Cedar Rapids; three grandchildren, Paisley, Onyx, and Emerald; sister Michelle Potratz of Marion and brothers Loren Potratz of Iowa City, Calvin Potratz of Iowa City, Kermit Potratz of North Carolina, James Potratz of Center Point, and Jeffrey Potratz of Center Point; niece Denise (Aaron) Brislawn of Center Point; great-niece Kailee and great-nephew Garrett.
