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Cedar Rapids, Iowa 52401
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James Brownlie Forrest Jr.
JAMES BROWNLIE FORREST JR.
Cedar Rapids
Jim "Bub" Forrest, 94, of Cedar Rapids, passed away peacefully Sunday, Nov. 19, 2017, at Cottage Grove Place, Cedar Rapids.
Services will be held Saturday, Nov. 25, at 10:30 a.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Chapel of Memories. Visitation will be Friday, Nov. 24, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Cedar Memorial Park Funeral Home. Burial will follow services at Cedar Memorial Park Cemetery.
A lifelong resident of Cedar Rapids, he was born Aug. 23, 1923, to Scotch-Irish immigrant parents, James B. Forrest and Annie Wallace Forrest. After his 1941 graduation from Roosevelt High School, he attended the University of Iowa and served in the U.S. Navy. He then followed in his father's and brother's footsteps as a bricklayer. Jim later worked in sales, and as an independent agent established Jim Forrest Insurance Agency, which he owned until his retirement in 1983.
Jim met Arlene Burmeister while at a dance, something they both loved to do. They married March 19, 1951, in New Hampton, Iowa. They worked side by side, and enjoyed many winters in Florida playing golf with cherished friends. Jim was an avid Hawkeye basketball and Cubs fan. He and Arlene moved to Cottage Grove Place in 2006, where Jim was a founding member of the "4:30 Club." Additionally, he was a 32nd Degree Mason and held membership in the El Kahir Shrine, Elks, Lions and American Legion clubs.
Jim is survived by daughters, Dianne (Dr. Paul) Ruggle of Newton, Iowa, Susan Forrest of Prairie Village, Kan., and Julie (Dr. Kurt) Muehlebach of Kansas City, Mo.; and five grandchildren, Dr. Adam Ruggle of Phoenix, Ariz., Dr. Brian Ruggle (Dr. Melissa King) of Manhattan, Kan., and Forrest, Mary Claire and Lily Muehlebach of Kansas City, Mo.
Jim was preceded in death by Arlene, his wife of 58 years; his parents; and siblings and their spouses, William (Marie) Forrest, Mary (Bill) Diehl and Kathleen Forrest in childhood.
Though seeming gruff on the outside, he was a devoted husband, caring father and fun-loving friend. He also had a nickname for just about everyone! He will be remembered fondly and missed by all who knew him. We love you, Dad.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to El Kahir Transportation Fund, PO Box 38, Hiawatha, IA 52233.
Online condolences may be left at cedarmemorial.com.
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