John H. &uot;Hughie&uot; Courtney, age 76, of Freedom Township, Waseca County, died on Tuesday, Jan. 28, 2003, at the Albert Lea Good Samaritan Center.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Friday, Jan. 31, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waldorf with the Rev. Thien Nguyen officiating. Interment will be in the St. Joseph’s Community Cemetery following services.

Visitation will be held today, Jan. 30, from 4-8 p.m. at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waldorf, and will continue on Friday morning for one hour prior to the service. Memorials are preferred to the Waseca Area Hospice. McRaith Funeral Home of Waseca is handling arrangements.

John Hugh Courtney, the son of William and Grace (Haas) Courtney was born on June 24, 1926 in Waseca. He attended Waseca County country schools. As a young man in 1940, &uot;Hughie&uot; began farming on the Haas family farm in Freedom Township, Waseca County. On Oct. 12, 1950, he was united in marriage to Patricia A. Rohde at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Waseca. Hughie and Pat resided on their Freedom Township farm. In addition to farming, Hughie drove truck over the years. In 1996, as a result of a farming accident, Hughie left the farm and moved into the nursing home in Albert Lea. He had been a member of the St. Mary Catholic Church in St. Mary Township, Waseca County, and currently a member of St. Joseph’s Catholic Church in Waldorf. He was also a member of the Waseca Fraternal Order of Eagles Aerie #3753.

He is survived by his wife, Pat of Waseca; by one daughter, Peggy (and Bill) Lueck of Albert Lea; by one son, John (and Lori) Courtney of Waseca; by six grandchildren: Josh (and Jess) Courtney of Waldorf, Jessica Courtney of Waseca, Kyle Courtney of Waseca, Matthew Courtney of St. Paul, Amber Courtney of St. Paul, and Kasey Lueck of Albert Lea; by one great-granddaughter, Mika Rae of Waldorf; by nieces and nephews; and by sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and by one brother, Maurice Courtney.

Casket bearers are: Hughie’s grandchildren, Josh Courtney, Jessica Courtney, Kyle Courtney, Matthew Courtney, Amber Courtney, and Kasey Lueck.