Charles L. Forbes

Charles Leslie Forbes, 82, of rural Nora Springs, IA, died Friday, July 4, 2014, at the Nora Springs Care Center of congestive heart failure. Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 213 N. Pennsylvania Avenue, Mason City, IA, with Rev. Dan Gerrietts officiating. Military Honors will be conducted by the North Iowa Detachment #859 Marine Corps League. There will be a gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the church service. Per his wishes, his body was cremated. Inurnment will take place in the Nora Springs Park Cemetery at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the Charles Forbes memorial fund in care of the family. Charles was born April 18, 1932, in Ottumwa, the son of Noble and Doris (Patrick) Forbes. He attended high school in West Bend and enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps when he was 18 years old. He served as a corporal in the Marines from 1951 to 1954 and was honorably discharged. During his enlistment, he was a tank mechanic in the Korean War from July 1951 to July 1952 and fought in four battles. He also served as a drill and rifle range instructor at Quantico, Va. Charles was very proud of his service in the Marines and proud of his service to his country. He was united in marriage to LeNore Valborg Nelson on January 10, 1953, in Nora Springs. Charles worked as a truck driver, mechanic and farmer. He was an avid reader and loved to reminisce about his childhood and service in the Marines. He enjoyed fishing, deer hunting, baseball, collecting rocks, attending rock and gem shows, making jewelry from the rocks he collected, bird-watching and taking road trips with his family. He is survived by his wife, LeNore, of rural Nora Springs, and four children: Michael (Beth) Forbes of rural Rockford; Patricia Dietrich of Cabool, Mo.; Teresa Forbes of Cedar Rapids; and Gregory Forbes of Mason City. He is also survived by four grandchildren: Jason Forbes, Phillip Forbes, Christina Dietrich and Joseph Dietrich; and three great-grandchildren: Tyler, Destiny and Evelyn. He was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Donna (Mrs. Kenneth) O'Donnell; an infant brother, James Patrick Forbes; and an infant daughter, Shirley Ann.

Cemetery:
Inurnment will take place in the Nora Springs Park Cemetery at a later date.

Memorials may be directed to the Charles Forbes memorial fund in care of the family.

Visitation:
There will be a gathering of family and friends one hour prior to the church service.

Service:
Memorial services will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, July 19, 2014, at Trinity Lutheran Church.