Obituary of Jerome V. Forrest

Jerome ?Jerry? V. Forrest, 78, of Yale Street, passed away peacefully Sunday morning at St. Mary?s Hospital with his wife at his side. Born in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, on October 26, 1927, the son of Emil and Mary Hauck Forrest. In his early days he was active in sports playing softball and basketball and enjoyed swimming and diving. During the Korean War era, he served with the US Army as a private first class, and was honorably discharged in 1956. It was during that time that he and actor James Garner were members of the Army basketball team and became friends. He was employed as Senior Sales Representative in Leather Colors and Chemicals for BASF Corp. and services leather finishing companies in Johnstown and Gloversville. He moved to Johnstown in 1975, and upon his marriage in 1987, moved to Amsterdam. Jerry was an active member of Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, serving as usher, lay reader and council member. An avid golfer, he was a member of the Antler?s Country Club, and formerly the Fox Run Golf Club. Following his retirement in 1992, Jerry and his wife enjoyed traveling, especially to vacation sites that included golfing. Jerry showed his generosity by volunteering for Habitats For Humanity in Fulton County as a fundraiser. On November 21, 1987 he was united in marriage to the former Rosemary Cocca Lansburg. In addition to his beloved wife, his loving family includes his children, Vance L. and his wife Julie Forrest of Burlington, Wisconsin and Jodi and her husband Mark Schulteis of Colgate, Wisconsin; step sons, Devlin and his wife Susan Lansburg of Pomona, New York and Eric Lansburg of New York Mills, New York; a step daughter, Patrice and her husband Edgar Lopez of Dallas, Texas; his dear grandchildren, Vance Lee and Stacy Forrest, and Ryan and Bradley Schulteis; his sister, Minerva Lowe and her son, Joel Lowe of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. A celebration of his life will take place on Friday at 10:30 am at the Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church, 40 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam with the Rev. Elaine Berg officiating assisted by the Rev. Daniel Swanson. Relatives and friends are invited and may call on Thursday from 5-8 pm at the Betz, Rossi & Bellinger Family Funeral Home, 171 Guy Park Avenue, Amsterdam. Interment is in Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Cemetery. Contributions may be made in Jerry?s name to Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Mary?s Hospital Foundation, Community Hospice of Amsterdam or the Alzheimer?s Disease Assoc. all in care of the funeral home.