Thomas P. Courtney's Obituary
Thomas (“Tom”) Courtney, age 74, passed away at the Wisconsin Veterans Home-King after four years in residence on Nov. 2, 2018. Tom was born on March 22, 1944 to Ann and Leslie Courtney in Stevens Point, Wis. and was the eighth child of nine children. Tom enjoyed growing up living on West River Drive north of town and talked about hunting, fishing, ice fishing, and sledding down those treacherous hills onto the frozen lake when he was a boy. He fondly remembered when his older brothers would come home from military service and the house was filled with laughter. He not-so-fondly remembered babysitting his sister Sharon, eight years his junior, and changing diapers.
Tom graduated from P.J. Jacobs High School, Stevens Point, in 1962 and worked at Consolidated Papers in Whiting for 37 years.
Tom learned from an early age that you have to work hard to move forward and passed on this teaching to his children. He took pleasure in the small things: a chocolate bar, a can of cashews, a good forecast, a day in the woods hunting in the autumn.
Tom listened well and was slow to judge, accepting the information as it came. It was important to him to live in the country outside Junction City, and he built two houses on property there in two different times in his life. In 2013, Tom began to develop Alzheimer’s disease and experienced heart and brain problems.
Tom served in the Vietnam War from 1968-1971 in the Army police. He kept what he saw a secret until late in life and then the stories came quicker. His military service was a source of sadness and pride for him. He found a sense of community at the Wisconsin Veteran’s Home-King and enjoyed watching boats and ice fisherman on the Waupaca Chain of Lakes. Tom’s family would like to thank the VA staff for the comfort and help they gave him during his last years.
Tom is survived by his siblings, Jerry (Janet) Courtney of Whiting, Kay (Earl) Drefcinski of Mosinee, Mollie Strasser of Stevens Point, and Sharon (Jerry Kummer) Courtney of Stevens Point; children Alexander (Jodi) McKelvey of Waunakee, Colleen (Nicholas) Wenos of Sun Prairie; Ben Courtney of Plover; four grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Tom was preceded in death by his wife, Judith (Nelson) Courtney, his parents Leslie and Ann Courtney, stepfather Ralph, sister Patricia Hucke, and brothers Don, Gene, and Richard Courtney.
A short service will take place at the Holly Funeral Home of Waupaca on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018 at 11 A.M. Visitation will be held from 9:30 A.M. until the time of services. Burial will take place at the Central Wisconsin Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery followed by a luncheon at Simpson’s Restaurant.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Alzheimer’s Association or the Wounded Warrior Project.
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