Raymond Karl Forret

Raymond "Ray" Karl Forret was born on his family’s farm in Waukee, IA on June 23, 1933, the son of Mildred (nee' Baldwin) and Karl Edward Forret. He and his sister, Barbara, grew up on the farm. He graduated from Van Meter High School in Van Meter, Iowa with the class of 1951.

Ray enlisted in the United States Army and served in the post-WWII occupational forces in Germany. He was honorably discharged after two years and continued serving with the Army Reserves. Ray completed his BA in Industrial Arts at Northwest Missouri State University, in Maryville, MO. At an ‘airplane spotters dance,’ he met Patricia "Pat" Ann Toombs. After a year’s courtship, they were united in marriage on June 16, 1957 at the Methodist Church in Ames, IA. Ray and Pat shared nearly 67 devoted years of marriage and raised three children: Cherie Ann, Douglas Karl and Lynette Rae Forret.

Ray taught high school industrial arts for 20 years, in Calumet, IA, and then North Fayette County Community Schools in West Union, IA. He also earned his MA from the University of Northern Iowa in Cedar Falls through many sessions of summer school. Over the course of his teaching career, Ray was blessed to share life and learning with countless students. He also served as a leader for Boy Scouts of America in northeast Iowa; he always enjoyed interaction with younger generations.

Ray had the versatility to make significant changes throughout his life, giving up teaching to manage Wesley Woods Camp in Indianola for the Iowa Conference of the United Methodist Church for several years. He and Pat then moved back to his family’s 'century farm' in central Iowa, where she farmed and he was employed as a security guard by Wells Fargo Bank for 20 years until his retirement. Upon retirement, Ray and Pat split their time between Sturgeon Bay, WI and their home in the south - West Des Moines, Iowa. They settled in Sturgeon Bay year-round in 2019. Ray passed away on May 19, 2024 at the Pete and Jelaine Horton Skilled Nursing Center at Door County Medical Center in Sturgeon Bay.

His greatest joys were his marriage, his family, teaching, God’s creation and its people. Before Ray retired from the bank, he taught ESL, providing support to refugees. He loved hiking in the woods, looking for mushrooms and glacial erratics, identifying birds and trees, and reflecting on the forces of nature and the people who came before him.

Ray will be deeply missed by his wife, Patricia Forret; their children, Rev. Cherie Forret of Manitowoc, Doug (Amy) Forret of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Lynette Forret of Waukee, IA; grandchildren, Jacob (Bree) Meyer, Jessamy (Michael Thompson) Meyer, and Lucas (Lizzie) Buehler-Meyer, Emily (Brenden) Hawk, Ariel DaCosta, and Sasha (Chuka) Patterson, and Chase (Tabbetha) Foret and Cole (Raven) Conway; great-grandchildren, Audrey and Micah Hawk, Ethan and Owen Meyer, Elliott Ray Thompson, and Cordelia Foret; sister, Barbara Felker of Omaha, NE; other relatives; and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother-in-law, Dean Felker; grandson-in-law, Ryan DaCosta; and other relatives.

"Our family would like to express our heartfelt thanks to the staff at Jelaine and Pete Horton Skilled Nursing Facility in Sturgeon Bay for their care in the time Ray was with them."

Ray's life will be honored in a private family service at later date.

If you are considering a gift to honor his memory, Ray would have appreciated a gift to his favorite park: 'Friends of Potawatomi State Park' (www.runwild.org), or support for another park near you.

Huehns Funeral Home, Inc. & Door County Crematory LLC in Sturgeon Bay are assisting the Forret family. Expressions of sympathy, memories, and photos of Ray may be shared with his family through his tribute page at www.huehnsfuneralhome.com.

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