Forrest Schindler

Forrest Raymond Schindler March 2, 1923 - December 3, 2013 Forrest was born March 2, 1923 in Ulysses, Kansas to Andrew George and Kezia Frances (Johnson) Schindler. He attended school in Kendall, KS, through the 10th grade, the first year in a one room school house. He was the second of six children and the only one to serve in the military. On February 3, 1943, at the age of nineteen, he enlisted in the United States Navy in Kansas City, Missouri, and was sent to Boot Camp at Farragut Naval Training Center in Idaho, transferring to Machinist's Mate School in San Diegoat the Naval Training Station in July of 1943. He then boarded an ocean liner that the military used as a troop transport headed for Hawaii. His orders sent him to the New Hebrides Islands in the South Pacific.Here he helped repair equipment, planes, and ships, build roads, barracks, and airfields. He received his Honorable Discharge in Norman, OK on November 26, 1945. While on leave he married Fern Lucille Wadley on August 7, 1945 in Hotchkiss, Colorado. After his discharge he worked construction jobs in Kansas and Colorado until moving to Mills, WY in 1954. He was a member of the Carpenter's Union in Colorado and Casper, WY. The family moved to Alcova, WY in 1972 where he worked for the Bureau of Reclamation at the Alcova Power Plant until his retirement in 1986. Forrest enjoyed restoring old cars and taking his grandchildren on great adventures in those cars. Sometimes they had to walk home because the car often stalled when the gas was on one side of the tank when they were on an incline. They all have fond memories of Grandpa and the old car rides. He participated in the Pony Express Anniversary where he drove his Model A Coupe to deliver the mail with his grandson Trent. He was asked to drive Wyoming Governor Ed Herschler in the July 1976 Central Wyoming Fair Parade. Forrest is survived by his son, Ronald (Helen) Schindler of Mills, WY and daughter, Joyce Grantham, Peoria, AZ. Also surviving are sisters, Maxine Watson, Miami, OK and Mary Marriott, Chetopa, KS. He has four grandchildren: Stephanie Grantham and Trent Grantham, Andrew Schindler and Krista Schindler Greipel. He has seven great grandchildren and eight great-great grandchildren. Forrest was preceded in death by his wife, Fern (2008); parents; daughter, Doris Schindler (September 1987); sisters, Evelyn Kahm and Edna Efaw; and brother, LeRoy Schindler. Services will be at 10:00 AM, Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery. Viewing will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday, December 9, 2013 at Bustard's Funeral Home. Military honors will be accorded by the Natrona County United Veterans Council and the Wyoming Army National Guard. Interment will be at Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Natrona County Meals On Wheels, or a charity of choice.

Service

Tuesday, December 10, 2013 10:00am

Oregon Trail Veterans Cemetery

Curtis Street

Evansville, Wyoming 82636

Visitation

Monday, December 9, 2013 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Bustard's Funeral Home

600 CY Avenue

Casper, Wyoming 82601