John E. Forbes, 92, formerly of Morrisonville, died on Sunday, Dec. 29, 2019, at 9:10 p.m. at Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, Jan. 1, from 4 to 7 p.m. at Perfetti-Assalley Funeral Home in Morrisonville. Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, Jan. 2, beginning at 10 a.m. at the funeral home with the Rev. Dayle Badman officiating. Interment will follow at Morrisonville Cemetery. Donation of food may be brought to the American Legion Post 721 in Morrisonville Thursday morning.
Mr. Forbes was born Sept. 23, 1927, in Morrisonville, to Elmer and Vera Mae (Swinger) Forbes. He married Elizabeth Ann Ryan on Jan. 9, 1949, at Fairview Church, and she preceded him in death on Jan. 26, 2011. He later married Patricia Wallace on Dec. 2, 2017, in Taylorville, and she survives.
He graduated from Morrisonville High School with the class of 1945.
Mr. Forbes farmed most of his life, raising hogs and milking cows, as well as custom baling and lime spreading. During his career, he also worked for Allis Chalmers in Springfield, Louis Marsch, Firestone in Decatur, Peabody Coal Mine, Christian County Highway Department and the Illinois Department of Transportation. Additionally, he drove a school bus for Morrisonville School District.
After farming, he owned and operated Forbes Trucking, later driving for Sorrells Farm Supply in Raymond. Upon retirement, he worked for Perfetti Funeral Home, driving a funeral coach and portered cars for Bob Ridings. There were many jobs over the course of his life that required his expertise.
Mr. Forbes was a member of the First Baptist Church in Morrisonville, Midwest Truckers, a lifetime member of the Morrisonville Masonic Lodge and a past volunteer at Taylorville Memorial Hospital.
He enjoyed raising Shetland ponies, attending parades and playing marbles with his grandchildren.
In addition to his wife of Springfield, Mr. Forbes is survived by sons, Mark (wife Deb) Forbes of Morrisonville and Bryan (wife Patti) Forbes of Mahomet; daughters, Ronda (husband John) Carl of Glendale Heights and Kathy (husband Dennis) Beckmier of Humboldt; daughter-in-law, Jackie Forbes of Vandalia; 13 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Chuck Forbes; infant son, Johnny Ray Forbes; great-granddaughter, Kiley Beckmier; daughter-in-law, Jan Forbes; and sisters, Ruth Fleigle and Norma Bryan.
Memorials may be directed to Morrisonville Community Ambulance, PO Box 641, Morrisonville, IL 62546, or Nokomis Rehabilitation and Health Care Center Activity Fund, 505 Stevens Street, Nokomis, IL 62075.
Online condolences to the family may be left at www.assalleyfuneralhome.com.
