Former co-director of diaconate for diocese, Deacon Ron Forrest, dies

Deacon Ron Forrest, 84, of Harrisburg, S.D. and formerly of Sioux City, died May 4.

Visitation will be held on May 9 from 9 to 11 a.m. at Immaculate Conception Church in Sioux City. The funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m. with Father Armand Bertrand and Father Brad Pelzel.

The service will be live streamed on Mater Dei Parish's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/live/SAyKJ8s5vHU?si=Hmn3BjRL5CbGgIiG. 

Burial will be in the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Adel, Iowa, on May 11 officiated by Father Michael Hutchison from St. John Parish in Adel.

Ronald Marshall Forrest was born on Aug. 11, 1941, to Samuel Marshall Forrest and Margaret Mae (Bloom) Forrest in Winchester, IN. Ron graduated from Winchester High School in 1959. After high school, he entered vocational work and then enlisted into the United States Air Force.

Prior to his deployment to Vietnam in 1963, Forrest met the love his life, Judith Ann Anderson. After a tour of duty in Vietnam, they were united in marriage on Nov. 6, 1965, in Bayard, IA. To their union, three daughters were born, Christine, Catherine and Cynthia.

Forrest was honorably discharged in 1967 from the United States Air Force, achieving many honors and medals during his eight years of service.

They settled in Fremont, Nebraska, and he worked for the Fremont Police Department before joining the Iowa State Patrol in 1969. His career quickly advanced and he was promoted to Special Agent for the State of Iowa with the Division of Criminal Investigation, from 1971 until his retirement in 1997.

Deacon Forrest became a member of the Knights of Columbus in June of 1979 in Denison. In June of 1992, he took was ordained a permanent deacon in the Diocese of Davenport, and not long after he was incardinated into the Diocese of Sioux City where he served in parishes and as co-director of the diaconate program.

Deacon Forrest will be lovingly remembered by his wife, Judy; daughters, Christine (Don Thomas) of Eldon, IA, Cathy (Phil) Campbell of Rogers, AR and Cindy (Lance) Sappingfield of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren, Blake (Amada) Sappingfield, Evan Campbell, Sara Sappingfield and Hannah Campbell; sisters-in-law, Jane (Chip) Vargo and Suzy (Dale) Seidl; as well as many nieces, nephews, and extended family and friends.

Deacon Forrest is preceded in death by his parents; five older sisters, Sylvia, Ruby, Violet, Maribelle and Charlotte; in- laws, Romaine and Helen Anderson; six brothers-in-law; and other extended family.