John A. Pothast, age 74, Versailles, passed away of natural causes Sunday morning, July 23, 2017, at the Versailles Health Care Center in Versailles, Ohio.

He was born December 26, 1942, in Landeck, Ohio, to the late Raymond and Edith (Dickrede) Pothast. On April 24, 1965, at St. Remy Catholic Church in Russia, John married Betty Ann (Barton) Pothast who survives.

Also surviving are five children: Donald & Janet Pothast, Christina & Luke Subler, Christopher & Cheryl Pothast, Jon & Jessica Pothast, and Mechelle & Brian Heitkamp, all of Versailles; 18 grandchildren and one great-granddaughter; six siblings: Jeanette Fortman of Cleveland, Marcella & Tom Fisher of Wapak, Norma & Jim Wachauf of Wapak, Wilma & Myron Oen of Madisonville, TN, Karen & Steve Shipley of Russell Springs, KY, and Joyce & Dave Hauenstein of Lakeview.

He was preceded in death by three brothers-in-law: Bill Fortman, Larry Hall and Roger Carnes.

Mr. Pothast was a 1959 graduate of St. Joseph High School. He also studied in Lima to obtain meat cutter certification. John served in the US Army Reserves near the start of the Vietnam Era. In 1979, he retired from the former Pangles Grocery in Sidney. John had also been engaged in farming all of his working life.

John was a member of St. Nicholas Catholic Church and had been an adult Mass server. He was a past member of the Osgood Legion and had been active in St. Denis Knights of Columbus (past Grand Knight) and 4th Degree Knights of Columbus St. Gaspar del Bufalo (past Faithful Navigator). In 1990, John helped to establish the Council of Churches - Benefit Breakfast. He was a Versailles area Community Blood Drive coordinator from 2000 to 2004. John enjoyed following his grandchildren's sporting events as well as an occasional round of golf.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, July 27, 2017, at St. Nicholas Church in Osgood with Rev. David L. Zink presiding. Interment will follow at St. Valbert Cemetery near Versailles.

Friends may call Wednesday 3:00 to 8:00 PM and Thursday 9:00 to 10:00 AM at Gehret Funeral Home in Fort Loramie.

Memorials may be made to The Bethany Center (Piqua food pantry and soup kitchen).

Private condolences may be expressed at www.gehretfuneralhome.com.