Forrest J. Umsted, 86, of La Crosse and formerly of Kasson, MN, died on Tuesday, April 30, 2019, at Bethany St. Joseph Care Center. He was born on November 27, 1932 in Dayton, Iowa, to Forrest and Ida (Beckman) Umsted. He grew up in Harcourt, IA and graduated from Harcourt High School in 1950. On May 1, 1955 he married his life’s love, Karen Stewart and they were together until her death in 2005.
In 1951, Forrest joined the Air Force and was a member of the 1733rd Air Transportation Squadron during the Korean conflict. In 1956 he was hired by IBM to repair typewriters and worked his way up in the company and retired as a High-End System Quality Engineer in 1991. He was always proud of his work helping to design a computer chip for the AS-400 mainframe computer and his teaching of others across the country to build that chip. After his retirement he owned a clock repair business for ten years. Forrest enjoyed a lifetime of learning but especially enjoyed watching documentaries on anything to do with the wars or nature. He liked golfing and fishing. He enjoyed a cold beer, a funny joke, and a good laugh. He was a member of the American Legion Post 333 in Kasson, MN.
He is survived by his son Jim Umsted of Marion, NC, and daughter Teri (Dave) Booth, of La Crescent, MN. Grandchildren; Brittany (Joe) Eidem, Marc Umsted, Sarah (TJ) Umsted, Zach Umsted, Emma Booth, Ryan Booth; Great-Granddaughters Evie Eidem and Shelby Umsted. Siblings; Roger (Marilyn) Umsted, Rosie (Joe) Kaufman, Dick (Nancy) Umsted, Gary Umsted, Phyllis Umsted, and many nieces and nephews. He enjoyed his relationships with David Nielsen, Jordan Nielsen, Bridget Nielsen, and Nathan (Crystal) Nielsen and their children.
Forrest was preceded in death by his wife Karen, son Scott, his siblings; Mary Ann (Warren) Hanson, Jack (Edith) Umsted, Bob Umsted, Vicki Umsted, and Karen’s brothers and sisters and their spouses.
The family would like to thank the incredible staff of Bethany St. Joseph Care Center for their care and love of Forrest. In lieu of flowers memorials are preferred to the BSJ Rec Therapy Department, 2501 Shelby Road, La Crosse, WI.
Services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Friday, June 7th, at the Kasson United Methodist Church. Visitation will be Thursday, June 6th, from 5:00-8:00 P.M. and one hour prior to the services at Church on Friday. Burial will be at Maple Grove Cemetery.
Do not mourn me as I have passed but celebrate me because I have lived.
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