Darrel Richard Forslund Sr.

Darrel Richard Forslund, Sr., was born on September 26, 1940 in Hollywood CA, firstborn to Richard and Ruth (Larson) Forslund. He grew up in Fort Dodge and graduated from FDSH in 1959. He married Julie Fishel on August 26, 1961 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fort Dodge, Iowa. After a few years in the Air Force serving as a B52 tail gunner stationed in Rapid City, SD, the couple returned to Iowa. They spent most of their 52-year marriage in the Fort Dodge, Des Moines and Spencer areas. He was a quiet guy, always hardworking, reliable and gentle. He retired in 2005 after working various manufacturing jobs. He always had time to spend with his children as they were growing up, He enjoyed taking them camping around Iowa, nature walks and picnics, especially to Olsen Park, Dolliver Park and Okoboji. He also enjoyed gardening throughout his lifetime, and loved passing those skills on to his children and grandchildren. One of his joys was supporting his children and grandchildren in their life endeavors. He was an avid reader of the Bible, books on World Wars I and II, B52s and other military airplanes, trains and politics. He was an excellent Scrabble player and loved challenging his daughters to a competitive game. One of his favorite places to visit was the Black Hills, which he got to do many times with his family. His faith in God was most important in his life, and he was currently a member of DaySpring Assembly of God in Spencer. Darrel passed away at the age of 73 on Saturday, May 10, 2014 at his home surrounded by his family. Darrel is survived by his wife, Julie, Spencer; son, Dr. Darrel (Sandi) Forslund, Spencer; daughter, Stacy (Dennis) Ratashak, Mitchellville; son, Rod Forslund, Chicago; daughter, Stephanie (Paul) Hamilton, Ankeny, and foster daughter, Barbara LaGrand, Champaign, IL; his grandchildren: Amanda Condra, Erik, Luke, David and Daniel Forslund, Brianna, Brett and Chad (Teresa) Ratashak, Jake and Madi Heidick; brother, Charles Forslund, Sioux City; sister, Sharon (Terry) Klinger, Boone, sister-in-law, Holly Forslund, Sioux City; and brothers-in-law, Brian (Peggie) Fishel, Badger; Earl (Lauren) Fishel, Cedar Hill, TX, and Terry (Gini) Fishel, Lawrenceville, GA; mother-in-law Edna Fishel, Spencer; and many cousins, nieces and nephews and their spouses and children. He was also a loving father/grandfather figure to three special exchange students, Liza Jane Perrin Scott, Brisbane, Australia; Andreas Ebert, Leipzig, Germany, and Yevgenia (Jane) Rudenko, Stavropol, Russia. He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Steven and Roger; sister Karen Sullivan; father-in-law Earl Fishel, and adopted daughter Toni Condra.

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