Forrest passed away in his home, peacefully in his sleep, to the arms of Jesus. He had a loving and generous heart; it just gave out on him two months short of his 96th birthday. Every time he spoke to anyone in his family he would always say, “Know that I love you, give my love to your family, and God bless you.”

Forrest was born in New Baden, Illinois, at home, to his parents Dorothy Evelyn (Zirkel) and Elmer Henry Winkler. He weighed 12 pounds at birth and was an only child.

In 1946 he graduated from New Baden Community High School after serving as President of his Sophomore, Junior, and Senior classes. He was President of the Athletic Club and Commercial Club. He was a star athlete and received seven letters in three sports including Captain of his championship basketball team. He always had a job either working laying railroad ties in the summer, delivering newspapers on his bike, or working after school at the local drug store as a “soda jerk” making milk shakes and ice cream floats behind an ice cream counter. He knew everyone in town, and everyone loved him. He was a “tall drink of water” at 6’2”, skinny as a rail, and he always had a big smile for everyone.

After graduating high school with honors, he attended the University of Illinois (U of IL) and graduated in 1950, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accountancy and Business Management. He said he never bought a meal all through college since he worked as a waiter at a girl’s sorority house and received all of his meals for free. During his years at college, he served on the Commerce Council; was a member of the Accountancy Club; the Marketing Club; he was the General Chairman for the Military Ball; he was General Chairman of the Commerce Dance; he was a member of Phi Chi Eta; Scabbard & Blade; Captain of the University Brigade; served on the Military Council as Quartermaster Representative and was House President. He loved people, made friends wherever he went and loved to serve others. While at U of IL, Forrest served four years in the Army R.O.T.C. and in 1949 he received a commission to serve in the Army Officer’s Reserve Corps. After serving 13 years, he was Honorably Discharged as a First Lieutenant in 1963 having served the United States Army Reserve 17 years total.

From 1950-1970 (20 years), Forrest worked for Swift & Co. in sales and management.

In 1951, Forrest married his love, Dorothy “Dottie” Jean Fauth of St. Louis, Missouri. Their first date was a blind date to a St. Louis Cardinal’s baseball game. They were set up on the date by their close friends, Red and Mary Schoendienst (St. Louis Cardinal’s MLB Hall of Famer) and they soon married on Thanksgiving Day. They lived near St. Louis, and later Chicago, and had three daughters.

In 1966, Swift & Co. transferred Forrest and his family to Albany, Oregon to manage the closing of Nebergall Meat Company, which was owned by Swift. Dottie and Forrest fell in love with Oregon and when Swift sought to relocate the Winkler family, Forrest just couldn’t leave the beautiful Pacific Northwest where he and his family loved to hunt, fish, and camp in their travel trailer so, after 20 years with Swift, he resigned.

In 1970, Forrest passed the Oregon Real Estate Exam and started his 30-year career in real estate. He held CRS, GRI and CCIM designations. He served as Chairman of Albany Multiple Listing, President of Albany Board of Realtors, Board of Directors for the Oregon Association of Realtors, a Director for the National Association of Realtors, Dean of Oregon Realtor Institute and as a Director of the Albany Chamber of Commerce. He was a pillar in the Albany community for many years and owned Winkler & Company until he retired in 1985. Forrest and Dottie then purchased a home in Sun City West, Arizona and became “snowbirds” spending six months a year in Arizonia and six months a year in Oregon.

Forrest served as an Elder and Deacon at the United Presbyterian Church and later as a member of First Assembly of God, (Hope Church), in Albany. His love of God carried him through his life. He was still reading his daily Christian devotionals until his last week on earth.

Forrest loved to travel. He had been on every continent of the world and all 50 states. His favorite form of travel was cruising. Forrest and Dottie, his wife of 44 years, took many cruises all over the world. His beloved Dottie died of cancer in January 1995.

After his wife died, Forrest would treat his three grown daughters to an annual trip cruising to places around the world while spending quality father/daughter time together, usually over his birthday. When Forrest was turning 90, his daughters asked him where he would like to celebrate his 90th birthday. He paused and said that he had always wanted to go to Fiji so that is what they did, cruised to Fiji where he turned 90 with his daughters. His last cruise was for his 91st birthday and he sailed the shores of Omaha Beach in Normandy, France for the 75th anniversary of D-Day.

In 1996, Forrest married Marjorie “Marj” (Olsen) Smith of Yakima, Washington. They met on a cruise ship and took many cruises during their 27 years of marriage. Marj was stricken with Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, and she currently resides at the Mennonite Home. Forrest would regularly visit Marj, and we believe she would still recognize him when he came into the room. Her eyes would light up and you knew, she knew, it was her Forrest.

As a depression-era child, Forrest always worked hard and saved what he earned. He was grateful for the smallest of kind gestures and was generous and gracious, even to the end. Forrest was blessed by the most wonderful caregivers in the last years of his life.

Forrest is survived by his three daughters, the pride of his life: Janice Smith (Mark), Jeanne Wall (Roger), Joanne Barkhau (Ken). Forrest was blessed with seven grandchildren: Jessica Smith, Justin Smith (Megan), Jennifer Wymore (Ryan), Roger Rhodes Wall (Natalie), Forrest Wall (Brianna), John Zaleski, Julia Zaleski and five great-grandchildren: Jeremiah Smith, Julianna Smith, Lucy Jude Wall, Landry Smith, and Laurel Smith. He loved his family more than anything except his Savior.

O taste and see that the LORD is good: Blessed is the man that trusteth in him. Psalms 34:8

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made payable to:

The GIDEONS INTERNATIONAL

for the purchase of Bibles to be given in memory of Forrest Elmer Winkler. Contributions may be sent in care of Fisher Funeral Home, 306 SW Washington St., Albany, OR 97321, Telephone 541-928-3349.

A funeral and celebration of life will be held at:

10:00 am on Monday, March 25th at

Hope Church, in the Youth Center

2817 Santiam Hwy. SE, Albany, OR 97321.

Pastor Stan Baker will officiate.