Louis Courtney, age 88, of Ridgeway, Iowa, passed away on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at WinnMed Hospital in Decorah, Iowa.

Mass of Christian will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, December 5, 2025, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, 307 W Main St., Decorah, Iowa, with Rev. Jacob Rouse presiding. Following the mass, burial and lunch will be at St. Bridget's in Bluffton, Iowa.

Visitation will be from 3:00-7:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 4, 2025, at Helms Funeral Home, 306 E Water St., Decorah, Iowa. There will be no visitation at the church on Friday morning. Please come in and be seated.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the family in memory of Louis Courtney.

Louis was born on August 5, 1937, in Cresco, Iowa, to Harry and Stella (Carolan) Courtney. He was baptized at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in rural Bluffton, where he received all of his sacraments and remained a devoted member until the parish closed in 2008. After the closure, he continued as a member of the St. Bridget’s Oratory and later became a member of St. Benedict’s Catholic Church in Decorah.

On June 27, 1964, Louis married Patricia "Pat" Rooney at St. Benedict’s Catholic Church. Together, they raised seven children and built a life centered on faith, family, and farming. Louis was a lifelong farmer, and his love for the land and his family was immeasurable. The Courtlane Holsteins farm became a family legacy, where Louis instilled in his children a strong work ethic and a sense of pride. Many cherished memories were made through simple, but meaningful family traditions, like picnicking at Phelps Park on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, and enjoying burgers from the Burger Five with a 12-pack of Pepsi.

Louis was passionate about his community, farming, and the Holstein industry. He was a 60-year member of the county, district, state, and national Holstein Associations and served on various local boards, including the Winneshiek County Dairy Council, the Winneshiek County Extension Council, St. Bridget’s Parish Council and as a Bluffton Township trustee from 1988 to 2022. In 2011, he was honored with the Master Breeder Award from the Iowa Holstein Association, a testament to his dedication and skill in the dairy industry.

In 2008, Louis and Pat began transitioning the farm to the next generation, a process that culminated in the sale of their dairy herd in May 2017. The name "Courtlane Holsteins" lives on as a proud legacy of their hard work. Louis cherished his Irish heritage and was a steadfast supporter of the community. He looked forward every year to the St. Patrick’s Day Mass and Dance at St. Bridget’s, where he and Pat were embraced by friends and neighbors. His pride in the next generation that maintained and improved the St. Bridget’s Church facilities was immense, and he was proud to be the fourth generation of his family to be buried in St. Bridget’s Cemetery.

In the most recent years, if you were able to have any visits with Louis at all, it didn’t take long to see how much he loved and how proud he was of his grandchildren. From taking the time to teach them how to care for cattle, to nurturing a newborn calf, or best of all, a trip through the fields to check the crops on the gator. However, the best memories will always be around the table after breakfast, sharing stories and talking about what was on the schedule for the day.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff at Winn Med, The Ossian Senior Hospice, and the team from Winneshiek County Hospice. There are countless members of the staff at all these facilities that mean so much to Dad and our family. We sincerely appreciate your care and support. We also want to thank Fr. Donald Hertges, Fr. Dan Knipper, and Deacon Nick Francois for their visits, support, and prayers.

Louis is survived by his beloved wife, Pat Courtney of 61 years; their seven children: Shawn (Kara) of Bettendorf, IA, Shane of Ridgeway, IA, Scott (Amy) of Ridgeway, IA, Shelby (Michelle) of Decorah, IA, Sheil (Patti) of Ridgeway, IA, Shannon (Doug) Tieskoetter of Decorah, IA, and Sam (Sarah) of Ridgeway, IA. He is also survived by 18 grandchildren: Sarah (Cal) Stovie, Collin (Emily,) Azariah, and Kaiya Courtney; Blake (Leslie), Brooke (Calvin), Brody (Annika), and Brinlee Courtney; Kayla (Jason) Malven; Anelise, Louis, Declan, and Irelynn Courtney; Derek, Devin, and Dacia Tieskoetter; and Cormac and Cael Courtney. He is also survived by his sister, Louise Nichols of Papillion, NE, and sister-in-law Dolores Courtney of Omaha, NE, along with numerous nieces and nephews of which meant the world to him.

Louis was preceded in death by his granddaughter, Teegen Courtney; his parents, Harry and Stella Courtney; brothers: Frank, Gerald, Stephen, and Vincent Courtney; sisters: Marge Carlsten, Theresa Courtney, Marie Broghamer, and Elaine Drummond; his father and mother-in-law, Walter and Rose Rooney; sisters-in-law, Fran Wilcox, Rosemary Marshall, Marcella Rooney, Evie Andresen, and Elaine Halse; brothers-in-law, Mahlon Carlsten, Norman Nichols, Marcy Broghamer, Tom Andresen, Nathan Drummond, Charles Rooney, Harry Wilcox, and Jack Marshall.

Louis’s passing leaves a hole in the hearts of his family, friends, and community, but his legacy of love, hard work, and faith will live on for generations to come.