John Fortney
August 14, 1939 - May 17, 2022
Obituary
John L. “Jack” Fortney, 82, of Big Patch died on Tuesday, May 17, 2022. Funeral services will be at 6:00 PM, Tuesday, May 24, 2022 at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory, Platteville. Chapel military rites will be accorded by American Legion Post #42 and VFW Post #5274. Private family burial will be at Big Patch Cemetery. Friends may call from 4:00 PM until the time of the service on Tuesday at the Melby Funeral Home & Crematory,Platteville. Memorials may be made to the John L. Fortney Memorial Fund. Online condolences can be made at www.melbyfh.com
“Jack” was born on August 14, 1939 in Belmont, Wisconsin, son of Orville and Alice (Mohlman) Fortney. Jack was married to Lupe Solis Hernandez in 1960. He married Donna Rae Eggering on April 28, 1973 in Las Vegas, Nevada. She preceded him in death on December 8, 2011. He was united in marriage Patti Hill on July 28, 2012 at Big Patch. After high school he served in the United States Navy during the Korean War, stationed on the USS Long Beach. After his honorable discharge he spent most of his adult life in San Bernardino, California. Jack worked for 40 years for the SanteFe Railroad, where he was a machinist. It was after his retirement that he moved to Big Patch. He enjoyed hunting and fishing and helping his son, Sean, at his business, Empire Tattoo.
Jack is survived by his wife, Patti; children, John “Jay” (Anita) Fortney, Gina (Joe) Quinonez, Sean (Amanda) Fortney, Terri (Steve) Hoogheem, Todd Williams, Traci (Jerry) Henderson, Trevor Russell, Mike Gibbs and Vineta Smith; several grandchildren and great-grandchildren; sisters, Elizabeth Bartels, Barb (Gene) Myers, Jeanette Hull and Helene (Jack) Bennett; brother, Kenny (Patsy) Jentz along with many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his sons, Kevin Fortney, George Gibbs and Clark McBride, his parents, and brothers Roger Jentz and Joe Smith.