Obituary of Loren R. Forbes

Loren R. Forbes, 78, of North Liberty, lifetime Johnson County Resident, died suddenly at his home, Wednesday, September 24, 2014. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 am Monday, September 29, 2014, at Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service in Iowa City, with burial to follow at Ridgewood Cemetery in North Liberty. Visitation will be from 2 to 6 pm Sunday at the funeral home. A memorial fund has been established in his memory. Online condolences may be sent for his family through the web @ www.gayandciha.com. Loren Robert Forbes was born January 29, 1936, in Conesville, Iowa the son of Daris and Irene (Mincer) Forbes. He was a graduate of Lone Tree High School in the Class of 1953. On October 27, 1956, Loren married Janet Rose Simon in Riverside, Iowa. For over 43 years Loren was employed with the University of Iowa, in the Audio Visual Center, the last 16 of those as manager of equipment services and the media library. He has also farmed northeast of Lone Tree for nearly thirty years. Loren was an avid Iowa Hawkeye Fan, for the last 25 years he worked with the Sports Information Office at all home games assisting with the media. In his work at the University, Loren was a member of a number of professional organizations over the years. On the farm and in his personal time he volunteered himself and his family for so much that was near and dear to him. Including Ducks Unlimited, White Tails Unlimited, The Wild Turkey Federation, Johnson County Izaak Walton League, Iowa Wildlife Federation, National Wildlife Federation, Resource Enhancement and Protection, and the Mayors Youth Employment Program; holding many offices on the local and national levels. Because of his support and commitment to these and other endeavors he has received numerous awards by our State Governors over the years. He was a man of the soil, a man that loved the Hawks, the St. Louis Cardinals, and Denver Broncos. He also loved hunting and fishing, mushroom hunting, homemade ice cream, and penny slots. But most of all he loved his family; he was a great husband, and was most proud of being a dad, grandpa and great-grandpa! His family includes his wife, Janet; their children, Julie Forbes (Denise Theobald) of Park Ridge, IL; Leslie Forbes (friend Machele Pfeifer) of North Liberty, Scott Forbes (Mary) of Princeton, IA and Mark Forbes of North Liberty; 6 grandchildren, Jillian Anderson (Evan), Trisha Forbes, Stephanie Forbes Ahrens (Jon Ahrens) Jacob Forbes, Jordan Forbes, and Cade Forbes; 3 great-grandchildren, Jerimiah Washpun, Jameson Forbes, and Emma Ahrens; brother and his wife, Lowell and Linda Forbes of Lone Tree; sister-in-law, Betty Forbes of Lone Tree; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews, and his sidekick, Bella; "Loren's Dog". He was preceded in death by their son, Jeff Forbes; brothers, Keith Forbes and his wife, Ruth and Gerald Forbes; sister-in-law and her husband, Lois and Jim Cook, and daughter-in-law, Kate Forbes. Gay and Ciha Funeral and Cremation Service is caring for Loren's family and his services.