Robert I. Potter

Services for Pastor Robert I. Potter, 77, of Mentor-on-the-Lake, will be at 6:30 PM on Tuesday, August 4, 2015 at Grace Church of Mentor, 6883 Reynolds Road, Mentor.

The family will receive friends from 3-5, 7-10 PM on Monday, August 3, and from 5-6:30 PM on Tuesday, August 4, 2015, before the service at the Church.

Graveside services will be at 11 AM on Wednesday, August 5, 2015 at Willoughby Memorial Gardens, 38600 Lakeshore Boulevard, Willoughby.


Pastor Potter went home to be with the Lord on Friday, July 31, 2015 surrounded by his thankful family.


Born June 24, 1938 in Middlefield, he had lived in Parma for four years, Mentor for 26 years, then Perry for seven years and Homeworth for six years before returning to Mentor-on-the-Lake four years ago.


Pastor Potter accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Savior in 1959 and was an active member of Grace Church of Mentor, where he served as Senior Pastor for 33 years.

Pastor Potter lovingly and sacrificially cared for his family and flock at Grace Church of Mentor. He lived the shepherding truths of 1 Thessalonians 2 and 1 Peter 5. He loved his family and flock in a way that Jesus loved His. He loved the souls of his community no matter where he pastored or served. He loved to preach and teach God’s Word, the Bible. He compassionately taught what the Scriptures say, that repentance from our sins and faith alone in Jesus Christ was sufficient to grant someone eternal life in heaven.

He began Great Lakes Bible Institute, and pioneered ARCH Ministries which is a church planting ministry of Grace Church of Mentor. Pastor Potter was instrumental in planting or assisting in over 50 church plants throughout the United States. As a result of his efforts, there are now over 2,000 churches desiring to be a part of a national network of like-minded churches. These churches now desire to work together to reseed our country and world with God honoring, evangelistic, Bible preaching churches throughout the globe.

Survivors are his beloved wife, Carolyn “Joy” (nee: Hartline) (Teske) Potter, children, Rebecca Potter of Tolleson, AZ; Jonathan (Karin) Potter of Southern Pines, NC; Pastor Timothy J. (Ronda) Potter of Mentor and Pastor Joel D. (Charis) Potter of Kirtland; grandchildren, Jonathan, Caleb, Nicole, Micah, Noah, Emma, Caden, Cohen and Cavan; sister, Pamela Potter of Middlefield.

He also leaves the Teske families, Lisa (Mark) Roth of Strongsville, Todd (Lisa) Teske of Willoughby, and Ben (Julie) Teske of Medina and their children and grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his first wife, Judy (Hartline) Potter on May 24, 2014. His parents, Harlan and Helen (Narrow) Potter and his brother, Jim Potter are also deceased.

In lieu of flowers, the family encourages contributions to Arch Ministries, (a Church planting ministry of Grace Church of Mentor), 6883 Reynolds Road, Mentor, OH 44060.