Forrest Teig

On July 2, 2016, Dorothy was at the bedside of her husband Forrest Teig, age 90, as he passed away peacefully in his sleep nine days before their 68th wedding anniversary. Forrest and Dorothy have lived in Atlantic since 1957 when they moved from a farm in Minburn, Iowa, to a farm on the southwest edge of Atlantic. They previously farmed in Story and Hamilton counties.

Forrest ("Forrie") was born on March 12, 1926, in Winnebago, Minnesota. His parents, Mandus and Mary (Heers) Teig, had six other children, Richard, Wayne, Patricia, Virginia, Barbara, and Roger. Forrie's sisters, Jinny and Barb survive him.

Forrie graduated from the Randall, Iowa, high school in 1943, and he and Dottie (Boynton) were married in Jewell, Iowa, on July 11, 1948.

Forrie dedicated himself to improving the Atlantic community. He was a charter member of the Atlantic Kiwanis Club, served a term as its president and was active working on Kiwanis community projects including a playground built by the Kiwanis Club in Sunnyside Park.

In addition to his four years working for the Cass County Soil Conservation District, Forrie's love for the land and concern for the environment were demonstrated by his work with Trees Forever in Atlantic. Over the years, he and others planted trees in such places as along Atlantic's main street; in City Park; and, coincidentally, near Allen Place where he later would live the last three years of his life.

Cass County historically had been represented by only Republican elected officials until 1970 when Forrie was the first Democrat elected to public office in the county in 20 years. Governor Harold Hughes attended Forrie's swearing-in. Forrie served two terms on the Cass County Board of Supervisors and, in more recent years, became a long-term member of the Cass County Zoning Board of Adjustment.

In 1976, as the only Democratic elected official in Cass County, it fell to Forrie to go to the Atlantic Airport in his pickup to take a little-known Presidential candidate to a fundraiser at Sunnyside Park. Jimmy Carter remembered that kindness, and Forrie and Dottie accepted his invitation to attend an Inaugural event at the White House in January of 1977.

As a County Supervisor, Forrie was a strong advocate for the construction of a new County Home. The residents lived in an old, cramped farmhouse, and Forrie saw they worked long hours on the farm with their only entertainment coming from standing to watch a small TV at the end of a hallway. Forrie worked for several years to get a new County Home built, and, after two votes, Cass County residents supported the project that resulted in the construction of a safe and comfortable home for those living and working at the County Home.

Forrie also was the first Chairman of the Southwest Iowa Planning Council, served as President of the Iowa County Supervisors Association, and was a delegate to the Southwest Iowa Area Agency on Aging.

In retirement, Forrie and Dottie raised Cheviot sheep as a hobby. The hobby turned into real work when the flock grew to 600 head.

Forrie was a member and elder of the United Church of Christ, sang in the church choir, and taught a Bible class for adults.

In addition to Dottie, Forrie is survived by Bob Teig from Cedar Rapids, Tim Teig and his wife Cindy from Atlantic, and Tamra Teig (Kjos) from Pleasanton, California. There also are six grandchildren: Alex and Jon Teig; Kris Teig; and Emily, Elena, and Nathaniel Teig Kjos.

A celebration of life will be held for Forrie at the United Church of Christ, 1607 Hazel Street in Atlantic, on July 9, 2016, at 1:30 p.m., and all friends and relatives are invited. The family requests that, in lieu of flowers, donations to Trees Forever and the Kiwanis Club in Atlantic be considered.