Lesa Potos

Passed away peacefully on the night of April 27th, 2017 at Froedtert Hospital, after a brief battle with cancer at age 69.
Lesa was born on January 19th, 1948, to George and Annie Heinemann in Palatine, IL and graduated from Luther College in Decorah, IA. Trained as an educator, singer and pianist, Lesa shared her musical gifts in the church choir as well as the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. She was fluent in French and greatly enjoyed traveling and gourmet cooking. She spent most of her life in the paper industry and eventually met and married the love of her life Chris Potos in 1983.
Chris and Lesa met doing what they both enjoyed, singing. They were devoted members of the Northwest Choral Society. Lesa was so melodious. She had a beautiful soprano voice that would elevate any musical singing group. In fact, Lesa was a student studying voice with Robert Shaw, the world famous choral and symphonic conductor.
After Lesa graduated from Luther College she taught French for two years and then decided to go into sales for various paper distributors. Her career was so successful she ascended to the positions of Vice President and General Manager.
After marrying in 1983, Chris and Lesa moved to Milwaukee where they both continued to sing and joined the Milwaukee Symphony Chorus. Lesa sang for 20 years until she retired from professional singing just 7 years ago.
In 1989, Chris and Lesa and several Episcopalians founded St. Nicholas Orthodox Church in Cedarburg. They found a home there and worshiped religiously for over 20 years. The drive from Wauwatosa to Cedarburg began to take its toll however. Soon thereafter, Chris and Lesa joined the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church closer to home.
Lesa immediately became involved in the church parish where she volunteered in all areas. She was a sparkplug. Lesa was the volunteer of all volunteers.
Lesa joined the Ladies Aid Society (Philoptochos) and spearheaded every project with an attitude of personal doing rather than asking others to perform. Then when the need for a church secretary presented itself, Lesa was the first and only one to volunteer. She performed the job while requesting only half of the normal salary. She also straightened out a very precarious situation, one that would not pass a standard audit.
Lesa took it upon herself to develop an operations manual for the church office. When a new secretary was needed she trained her on her own time, without accepting any salary. Lesa was also a chairperson for many other committees that became historically successful.
No job was too big for Lesa. She had a voracious appetite for starting a project and seeing it to completion. The “Rental Contract” for the Cultural Center was one example. All of this in only a span of 4 years.
Lesa loved her family and her friends. She touched our hearts very deeply. A beautiful soul who embraced us all as her own.

May Her Memory Be Eternal.

Lesa is survived by her husband, Chris Potos of Milwaukee, her children Kristin Corbin, Rachel (John) Rogers, Peter Potos of Chicago, grandchildren Lucas and Amanda Rogers, brother Steve (Mary) Heinemann of Peoria; nieces Robin (Derek) Waddle of Des Moines, Karen and Lindsay Heinemann of Peoria.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St Nicholas Orthodox Church in Cedarburg or Philoptochos Society at Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church of Wauwatosa.

Visitation at Krause Funeral Home, 9000 West Capitol Drive, Milwaukee on Monday May 1, 2017, from 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Trisagion Service at 6:00 PM. Visitation Tuesday May 2, 2017 from 10:00 – 11:00 am followed by Funeral service at 11:00 AM. Burial at Pinelawn.