Forrest Ivan Richman

On that day we lost our much loved and admired Dad. He was a simple man with simple needs. He was blessed with a gentle nature and an amazing sense of humor. He was honest to a fault and his greatest fear was hurting someone’s feelings. If he could make you laugh at a joke or smile with a kind word, then you in turn made his day. His love for the “love of his life” and his children was pure and limitless. He was a Christian and it is our belief that as he took his last breath here on Earth, he took his first breath at his re-birth in our Savior’s presence. And so, even in our sadness, we choose to celebrate the life of the man we call Dad.

Forrest was born April 28, 1921 in Laura, Ill. to Guy and Mae (Sears) Richman; he married Virginia M. Volpp on July 11, 1947 in Muncie, Ind. and she preceded him in death on June 11, 2010 in Peoria after 63 years of marriage.

Surviving are his children, Scott (Sandy) Richman and Kathy Richman, all of Peoria and Barbara (Billy) Carrol of Manito, Ill; grandchildren, Jeff (Cheri) Knight and Justin (Deidre) Knight; great grandchildren, Jackson and Marlow Knight; and his sister, Betty Fisher.

Two brothers, Faye and Fred also preceded him in death.

He was a WWII Navy Veteran having served in the South Pacific aboard the USS Boise, including the Battle of Cape Esperance. His ship was also privileged to transport Gen. Douglas MacArthur on a 3500 mile tour of the Central and Southern Phillipines and Brunei Bay, Borneo. Dad was a very proud veteran and respected all who served before, with and after him.

After the war he graduated from Ball State University in Muncie, Ind.

Forrest retired from Baumgarten Distributing Co. in 1985. He often spoke of his respect and friendship with Gary Baumgarten.

He was a member of Salem Lutheran Church in Peoria where many lasting friendships were forged. A special thank you is extended to Paul and Joann Misselhorn. Dad so enjoyed your visits and thought the world of you.

We would also like to thank and acknowledge the nurses and CNA’s on the 4th floor at Proctor Hospital for their loving and genuine care of our dad. If you asked them, they would just say they were doing their job. If that’s the case then they are truly angels among us. Additional thanks to Unity Point Hospice for their guidance and compassion through this difficult time in our lives.

Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Thursday, October 20, 2016 at Salem Lutheran Church with Rev. Richard Wehrs officiating. Visitation will be one hour prior to the funeral at the church. Burial will follow at Swan Lake Memory Gardens in Peoria where Navy Funeral Honors will be rendered.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to his church, the Fisher House Foundation, a military veterans foundation, 111 Rockville Pike, Rockville, MD 20850 www.fisherhouse.org or any military charity, or simply, from your heart, tell someone a joke or say a kind word and make their day. Dad would really like that.