Forest D. Conner

Forest Dean Conner, son of June Ellen Conner, was born December 16, 1916 at Perry, Iowa and died July 29, 2010 at the Perry Health Care Center in Perry, Iowa at the age of 93 years, 7 months and 13 days. Forest was raised by his grandparents, Louella "Lou" and Joe Conner in Perry. He attended school in Perry. On February 14, 1940, he was united in marriage with Vivian June Borst at her parents' home south of Dawson. To this union, four children were born: Joanne, Leroy, Gary Dean and Robert Eugene. Forest worked as a handyman and loved to work on cars. In the 1940's, he was employed as a mechanic at Hank Jorgenson's garage in Minburn for approximately three months before moving to Iowa City where he worked for United Airlines and also for his stepdad's paving business. While in Iowa City, Forest built a home and garage for he and Vivian. Forest was drafted into the United States Army in June of 1945 and served stateside as a tank mechanic until his honorable discharge in January of 1946. The couple moved back to Perry in 1946 and Forest began working for Lee Wiese where he worked for thirty-two years before retiring at the age of sixty-two. Forest had a workshop in his garage and built many oak items including doll houses, bed, tables, deacon benches, grandmother's hutch clocks, chairs and rocking horses. Forest continued woodworking until his health caused him to be unable to do so. One of his most impressive wood projects was a large doll cabinet he built to hold Vivian's dolls. He also built two fishing boats, which the couple used to go fishing at a lake in Baudette, Minnesota. They especially loved the many trips they took to Baudette, which is the home of their grandson, Doug. The couple also enjoyed traveling to many states in their motor home. Forest was a member of the First Christian Church and Perry Moose Lodge. Forest was preceded in death by his mother and stepdad June & Fred Laughlin; his grandparents; sons: Gary Dean in 1959 and Robert Eugene in infancy, his great-granddaughter Amber Lynn in 2001, and his half-brother Robert Joseph Laughlin. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Vivian; his daughter Jo Brown and her husband Gene of Rippey, Iowa and son Leroy Conner and his wife Cheryl of Perry, Iowa. Forest is also survived by five grandchildren: Doug Brown and his wife Kim of Baudette, Minnesota; Bob Brown and his wife Roxanne of Rippey, Iowa; Bill Conner of Perry, Iowa; Cindy Mertz and her husband Donnie of Milwaukee, Oregon and Mitch Conner of Ankeny, Iowa; 11 great-grandchildren and 3 great-great-grandchildren; his half-brother Donald Laughlin of Iowa City and half-sister Virginia Sinclair and her husband Robert of Perry, Iowa; many nieces and nephews, other relatives and many friends.