Thomas Carney Obituary

Carney
Thomas "Bert" Bertrand
Carney
August 15, 1932
September 8, 2023

Thomas Bertrand "Bert" Carney, 91, passed away after a short illness on September 8, 2023. Bert was the son of Gene and Mary (McDonald) Carney and the fifth of seven children. He was born on August 15th, 1932, at the height of the Great Depression on the family farm near Emmetsburg, Iowa, a town settled by Irish immigrants, including his family. Bert's ambition, faith, commitment to family and cherishing of his Irish heritage were greatly shaped by these early influences.
After serving in the Navy for two tours, Bert returned to Iowa and began a business partnership with his brother, Jerry. In 1957, he entered the most important partnership of his life when he married Nancy. Their first date, orchestrated by his sister, Janese, was followed by a short engagement and endured as a 65-year romance. The couple were married at Sacred Heart in Boone and honeymooned in Colorado where Bert had worked for a short time.
After they were married, Bert and Nancy resided in Ames, Iowa, and it was in Ames that all six of their children were born. The family enjoyed summers at their cottage in Clear Lake.
In 1971 Bert and Nancy made the bold step to leave friends and family in Iowa and move to Colorado Springs where Bert owned a series of successful businesses. Bert was on the parish council at St. Paul's, on the finance committee and men's group Holy Trinity and a founding member of St. Francis of Assisi Parish.
As Colorado Springs grew too large, Bert and Nancy found an opportunity in 1990 to move to Fort Collins, Colorado, a town they had grown to love when visiting their four children who graduated from Colorado State University. Bert's final business endeavor was the purchase of what is now The Armstrong Hotel building. After selling the business in 1997, Bert and Nancy spent their retirement traveling extensively throughout the US, Europe and South America while enjoying their home and neighbors in Eagle Lake and hosting family gatherings for their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
Bert was preceded by his beloved wife, Nancy and his six siblings Don, Jerry, Jim, Pat, Mike, and Janese (Hancock). He is survived by his six children Mike (Sally), Bryan (Dana), Dennis, Kathleen, Sheila (Keith) Freischlag and Pat (Derek), eight grandchildren, three great-grandchildren and his sister-in-law, Mary Carney.
A Mass of Resurrection will be held at St. Joseph Catholic Church, 300 West Mountain Ave., Fort Collins, on Friday, November 10, at 2:00 PM. A reception will follow. To read the full obituary, please visit www.bohlenderfuneralchapel.com.