07/01/2011 - Father Edward P. Cortney

Father Edward P. Cortney of Chadron passed away on June 26, 2011 at Crestview Care Center after a short illness. His funeral mass will be on Friday, July 1, 2011 at 9:00 A.M. at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron. A rosary will be held the evening before at 8:00 P.M. at the church in Chadron.  Burial will be at Greenwood Cemetery in Sidney, Nebraska at approximately 1:45 PM.

Fr. Ed was born to Hugh and Helen Cortney on March 21, 1938 in Sidney, Nebraska, the 5^th of 6 children. He attended school at the Kimball Public School and at St. Patrick’s Academy in Sidney. He received his Bachelor of Arts Degree and Masters of Divinity Degree from St. Thomas Seminary in Denver where he took his entire seminary course. He later received a Masters of Science and Education Degree from Kearney State College.

Fr. Ed was ordained a priest at St. Mary’s Cathedral in Grand Island on May 28, 1963. He was influenced to join the priesthood by his pastor, Msgr. Lawrence Kintz, priest relatives, and by parental encouragement. He began his 48 years of service in the Grand Island Diocese as an assistant at St. Ann’s in Lexington. In 1966 he was appointed assistant at St. Patrick’s in North Platte, and in 1969 he was appointed Chaplin of St. Mary’s Hospital in Scottsbluff and Director of the Newman Apostolate at Hiram Scott College. The appointment at Hiram Scott sparked a special interest in campus ministry that continued throughout his carrier.

In 1972, Fr. Ed was appointed Superintendent of Kearney Catholic High School and associate pastor at St. James Catholic Church. A year later, he was appointed Chaplain of Good Samaritan Hospital in Kearney. During his 14 year stay in Kearney, Fr. Ed served as Diocesan Director of Youth and in team ministry with Fr. Robert A. Karnish and Sister Jan Bucher at Kearney State Newman Center and at the Kearney Youth Development Center. He was also the supervisor of the Diocesan Premarital Inventory Program and served in Nebraska State Hospital in Kearney while continuing to serve as Chaplain of Good Samaritan. On July 1, 1978, Fr. Ed became the Chaplain at the Newman Apostolate of Kearney State College where he ministered to hundreds of college students and made many lifelong friends. In 1986 Fr. Ed became pastor of Holy Rosary Church in Alliance, and in July 1993 he was appointed pastor of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Chadron where he served until his retirement in 2008.

Fr. Ed was an avid sportsman and enjoyed snow skiing, racquet ball, golf and tennis-where he displayed an especially competitive streak. He was also an avid Husker fan and became a strong supporter of the Chadron State College Eagles athletic programs. He regularly led team pre-game devotions. He continued his campus ministry at the Newman Apostolate in Chadron, and took great pride in making St. Patrick’s Parish a welcome home to college students, their families and the college community.

Fr. Ed loved his family and enjoyed traveling to Michigan and Las Vegas for regular visits. After his retirement, he twice toured his beloved Ireland- the land of his ancestors and was planning a third trip. During his retirement, he substituted throughout the Diocese where he was recognized as an outstanding scriptural teacher and homilist.

Fr. Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Hugh and Helen Cortney, his brothers, Francis Cortney and Ronald Cortney and sister-in-law Blanche Cortney; his sister and brother-in-law, Rita and Stan McNamee; and brother-in-law George Reinelt; a niece, Judy Cortney; nephews, Martin Cortney and Vincent Cortney; and his longtime pet, “Chelsea”. He is survived by two sisters, Rose Reinelt and Nancy Cortney, a sister-in-law Ruth Cortney; 33 nieces and nephews and numerous great nieces and nephews; as well as his extended family of parishioners, and his latest dog, “Babe”.