Jim passed away May 28, 2018 in the comfort of his home. He was born on January 5,1930 at St Joseph’s Hospital in Fort Wayne, IN, and was named Roland James Forrester. Jim was the only child of Jesse James and Elizabeth Beatrice (Swager) Forrester.
They lived with his paternal grandparents when he was young, always surrounded by aunts, uncles and cousins. He had many stories about those days. The family moved to South Bend and settled in River Park in 1936.
He was enrolled in school at St. Monica’s and had stories of being punished by the nuns – they had no mercy. He was born with a glint in his eye for mischievousness, and that never went away. He always told his daughters that they got our sense of humor honestly.
In 1948, he graduated from John Adams High School. After graduation, he went to work at Studebaker’s as an assembler. In 1951, he enrolled at Ball State University to become a biology teacher.
He was involved in the Newman Club, Science Club, Vets Organization, and was a member of the Kappa Sigma Kappa fraternity. It was at Ball State that he met a beautiful and sassy young gal from Indianapolis, Patsy Risher, whom he later married. His college was interrupted by the Korean War.
He was stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, with his buddy Jack Boyer as a supply clerk. By the grace of God, he didn’t have to go to Korea. While in Alaska, he asked his mother to buy an engagement ring for Patsy.
She accepted, and they were engaged. In 1953, he was released from the army, came home and completed his college degree in biology and history education. Jim and Patsy were married June 5, 1954 at St Anthony’s Catholic Church.
They were married 62 years, before her passing in 2016. He started his teaching career at Edwardsburg Junior High. In 1966, he received his master’s degree in guidance counseling from Ball State University, and he went on to be a guidance counselor with the Elkhart School district.
He was a wonderful, caring and trusting presence in the lives of the students who needed his guidance. Most of his teaching and counseling career was at Brookdale Junior High. He loved working with kids of that age!
In 1962, they moved into a new home where they would raise their two daughters and live out their lives to the end. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of the Elks, Lodge 235. He is survived by his two daughters, Tammi Lei (Earl) Yoder and Tracy Lynn (Russell) Gluth, and two grandsons, Tyler Forrester (Kristina) Gluth and Harrison Russell Gluth.
He is also survived by two nieces, Janice Bell and Irene Schmidt, along with many cousins. His cousin Margie, whom he grew up with, passed on the same day as Jim himself. He is also survived by his faithful rescue kitty, Ebony.
He was a wonderful father, husband, grandfather, and son, as well as a kind and compassionate human being who will live forever in the hearts of his family and friends. Thank you to dear Dr. Janet Galanes and her caring staff, Center for Hospice Care, and to Jim’s “girls,” the CNAs who lovingly took care of him for two years. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:30am on Friday, June 1, 2018 at St. Thérèse, Little Flower Catholic Church, 54191 N. Ironwood Road, South Bend, IN.
Graveside services and burial will follow at St. Joseph Valley Memorial Park in Granger, IN. Friends may visit with the family from 10:00-11:30am on Friday prior to services at the church. Expressions of sympathy in memory of Jim may be donated to Humane Society of St. Joseph County, 2506 Grape Road, Mishawaka, IN 46545, or Center for Hospice Care, 501 Comfort Place, Mishawaka, IN 46545.
Online condolences may be left for the Forrester family at www. palmerfuneralhomes.com.
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