Richard Courtney
Richard Courtney
Richard Courtney
January 14, 1938 – May 17, 2016
Oskaloosa, Iowa | Age 78
Rick Courtney, 78, of Oskaloosa passed away early Tuesday morning, May 17, 2016, at the Mahaska Health Partnership in Oskaloosa. Richard Allen Courtney was born January 14, 1938, in Oskaloosa to James Allen and Edna Minnie (Kuntz) Courtney.
Rick was a 1956 graduate of Oskaloosa High School and then went to work for Mahaska Bottling Company. He was working as a foreman on the day shift when he left the company to start his own business, Courtney Electric, in 1971. He operated the business for over 40 years, retiring in 2012.
Rick married Barbara Patton and to that union two children were born, Kristy and Sherrie. They later divorced. He married Karen Irene Wellman, November 8, 1974. His son, Corey, was born to this union. She passed away July 2, 1987.
Rick was a member of the Oskaloosa Eagles and the American Legion Post #34. He was an excellent guitar player and enjoyed playing with family members on holidays and also sang and played for his own enjoyment. He loved the out-of-doors, and fishing, boating and camping on the Skunk River and at his cabin on the Des Moines River. He was an avid sports fan, cheering on his favorite baseball, football and basketball teams: the L.A. Dodgers, Green Bay Packers, Iowa Hawkeyes and Boston Celtics.
His family includes his children and their spouses: Sherrie (& Lester) Bos of Matagorda, TX; Corey (& Jessica) Courtney of Oskaloosa; and Kristy (& Danny) Kitzman of Sigourney, IA; a step-son and his spouse: Kelly (& Kristen) Williams of Hayesville, KS; five grandchildren: Nathan Kitzman, Samara Teeter, Lea Ann Shafraneck, Jared Landrum, and Mason Courtney; two step-grandchildren: Karenah and Kegan Williams; and eight great-grandchildren.
In addition to his wife, Karen, and his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Joan Long.
As was Rick’s wish, his body has been cremated.
A graveside memorial service will be held at 10 a.m., Thursday, May 19, 2016, at Bellefountain Cemetery near Tracy.
Friends and relatives may gather at Garland-Van Arkel-Langkamp Funeral Chapel on Thursday morning at 9:15 a.m. and a procession will depart for the cemetery at 9:30 a.m.
Memorials may be made to Stephen Memorial Animal Shelter.
