Forrest Oliver Spindler

FORREST OLIVER SPINDLER August 24, 1920 - August 2, 2014 Forrest Oliver Spindler, age 93, a life long resident of Park Rapids, MN, was peacefully called to his heavenly home on Saturday, August 2, 2014 at the St. Joseph's Area Hospital with his family at his side. Forrest was born on August 24, 1920 in Browns Valley, MN to Joseph and Dena (Oliver) Spindler. At the age of two, he moved with his family to the Park Rapids area where his immigrant father purchased a large farm near Big Sand Lake, north of Park Rapids. Forrest attended public school in Park Rapids, graduating from the Park Rapids High School with the Class of 1937. During his school days, Forrest worked along side his dad at the Skelly Service Stations he owned and operated. In 1937, he joined the Minnesota National Guard and in 1941 his Park Rapids Unit was activated into World War II. Forrest served in the Coastal Artillery Corps on Kodiak Island, Alaska and the Aleutian Islands before entering the Air Force Cadet Program and being shipped off to Germany. He fought in the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of War and the European-African and Middle Eastern Theatres of War. He was honorably discharged in September of 1945 and returned to Park Rapids where he continued working with his father in his Auto Servicing business as a mechanic. Forrest was united in marriage to Betty Irene Hartung on March 22, 1958 and they were blessed with one daughter, Kathy. His father Joseph died unexpectedly in a drowning accident while fishing on Fish Hook Lake and Forrest took over the operation of the family business. He later started Joe's Auto Salvage and served part-time with the Hubbard County Sheriff's Department. In addition, Forrest was appointed to serve as a Hubbard County Justice of the Peace. He later accepted a position with the Park Rapids School District as the School Bus Supervisor and drove a bus route everyday. Always working to supplement his income, Forrest owned a road grader and maintained roads for the state and county. He purchased several properties he rehabbed and resold. He was always repairing vehicles and other equipment, ran a St. Paul Pioneer Press Delivery route, worked as the Finance Officer with the Park Rapids American Legion and during his retirement he continued his lifelong hobby of repairing locks-coming to the rescue of people near and far with lockout emergencies-something he really enjoyed doing. Forrest was a private pilot who enjoyed flying his open cockpit plane he affectionately named the "Green Hornet". He also enjoyed fishing, riding his motorcycle with friends, fixing the "unfixable" and the challenge of working a good puzzle to keep his mind sharp. In addition, Forrest taught Gun Safety classes to area youth for many years, was a member of the Park Rapids Lions Club, the Mantrap Valley Conservation Club, and was a life time member of the Otto Hendrickson American Legion Post #212 in Park Rapids. Forrest was a good and honest man who never met a person he didn't like. Above all, he devoted his life to his wife, Betty who passed away in 2009; his daughter Kathy and son-in-law, Jeff, other relatives, friends and his beloved pets. Forrest will be lovingly remembered by his daughter, Kathy and her husband, Jeff Anderson of Park Rapids; his sister-in-law Ellen Spindler of St. Paul, MN, his brother-in-law, Ronald Piepkorn of Wadena; and much loved nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty, Brothers Howard Spindler, Russell Spindler and Milo Spindler, Father Joseph, Mother Dena and Step-Father Bill Earl. Funeral services will be held 10:30 AM Friday, August 8, 2014 at the Jones-Pearson Funeral Home with Rev. Art Wood officiating. Mary Hanninen will provide the music and will sing, "Go Rest High On The Mountain" and "Precious Lord, Take My Hand". The casket bearers will be: Dave Wilkins, Rod Nordberg, Ron Piepkorn, Scott Piepkorn, Kyle Piepkorn, Bill Brock and Cory Brock. Honorary casket bearers will be: Earl and Elaine Wagner, Jeanette Anderson, Lewie and Betty Neiman and Earl Ohlgren. Interment will be made in the Greenwood cemetery next to his precious wife, Betty. Visitation will be held beginning one hour prior to the service Friday morning at the funeral home. To view the video tribute or to leave on line condolences please visit www.jonespearson.com