William ‘Bill” A. Forsberg, 92, of Atchison, KS passed away from this life into eternal life with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, November 29, 2014 at the Atchison Senior Village surrounded by his family.
A Celebration of Bill’s life will be 1:00 PM, Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at the First Baptist Church, 1640 Riley Street, Atchison, with Rev. Michael Strickland, officiating. Burial will follow in the Cummings Cemetery, Cummings, KS. Family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 PM Tuesday, December 2, 2014 at the Becker-Dyer-Stanton Funeral Home, Atchison. The family suggests memorial contributions to help defray funeral expenses. Words of comfort and remembrance may be left online at www.beckerdyer.com.
Bill was born February 5, 1922, in Galesburg, IL the son of Arthur William and Hulda Clara (Johnson) Forsberg. He graduated from Diamond Valley High School, Burdick, KS, and joined the United States Army, working as a mechanic on aircrafts. Bill attended and earned an Associate Degree from Pittsburg Teachers College, Pittsburg, KS. Bill was recruited to establish the Auto Mechanics Department at the NEKA-VO-TECH School. He taught there for twenty-two years, being awarded in 1984 the Kansas Industrial Outstanding Trade Teacher of the Year and in 1985 awarded the Kansas Vocational Association Outstanding Master of Vocational Educator. Bill was a member of the First Baptist Church, the American Legion, and Masonic Lodge. He enjoyed woodworking, making little animals for the area schools, going fishing, and gardening.
Bill and Barbara Jean Kinney were united in marriage on September 11, 1955 at the First Christian Church, Junction City, KS. Barbara preceded him in death on April 23, 2014. Survivors include four daughters, Marion (Fred) Agnew of Atchison, Laurie Forsberg of Atchison and Ruth Forsberg of Topeka, KS, Jody O’Malley, Manhattan, KS, four grandchildren, Lauren Agnew (Travis) Eichelberger, and Adam (Alison) Agnew, Jeff O’Malley, Daniel M. (Tammy) Forsberg, Jr., six great-grandchildren, Isabella Eichelberger, Taylor Eichelberger, Raeley Agnew, Daniel J. Forsberg, Joshua Forsberg, and Ashley Forsberg.
He was also preceded in death by his parents, a son, Daniel Forsberg, four brothers; Earl, Elmer, Gene, Richard Forsberg and a sister, Kathy Harveston.