Joseph James "Jim" Cortney

Joseph James “Jim” Cortney, the son of William and Sabina Cortney was born April 20, 1925 on the farm near Alexandria NE the oldest of 10 children. He died on January 10, 2016 at Gardenside Care Home in Fairbury, NE.

Jim grew up on farms in the Alexandria area and attended country school through the 8th grade, and graduated from Alexandria High School in 1942. Jim entered the army in December 1944 and served in the Pacific Theater until his discharge in March of 1946.
On May 29, 1947 he was united in marriage to Elaine Niemeyer. They farmed in the Alexandria area and started their family. He also drove a truck part time. He started driving for Canning Truck Service full time in 1960.
In 1962 they moved to Fairbury. He hauled freight for 33 years, retiring in 1993. After retiring Jim and Elaine spent their time helping anyone and everyone who needed help whether it was one of their children who needed help with the grandkids for a few days or the neighbor who needed something hauled in the old pickup truck.

Jim really enjoyed and loved his family, always ready to sit, talk and play. Let’s go for a ride he would say, so you would get in the car and go. You might end up at Crystal Springs, out looking at the country side, the Dairy Queen, or even in a neighboring town to visit relatives. In the last years he was confined to a power chair so then the question to the great grandkids was do you want a ride. They would crawl up on his lap and away they would go.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his infant son Stephen and infant daughter Ellen. Also preceding him were his brothers Thomas, Bernard, William, Dennis, John, and sisters Mary and Ann.

He is survived by his wife of 68 years Elaine , his children Mary Johansen and her husband Wayne, Tim Cortney and his wife Shari and Biny Coordsen and her husband Brian. Additionally, he is survived by his grandchildren Patrick Johansen and his wife Devin, Russell Johansen and his wife Kiersten, Cortney Driewer and her husband Jeremy, Camilla, Cale and Emma Cortney and Jacob, Nathan and Matthew Coordsen. He is also survived by 9 great grandchildren and his sisters Kathleen Selig and Ruth Disney, nieces and nephews.