Leroy “Bub” Forbes

Leroy “Bub” Forbes, 82, of Conesville, Iowa, died Sunday, January 17, 2010, at the VA Medical Center in Iowa City. A celebration of his life was held Wednesday, January 20, 2010, at the Lone Tree American Legion. A private family service was held with full military rites being provided by the combined units of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457 and the Riverside V.F.W. Post 6414. A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in memory of Mr. Forbes. The Sorden-Lewis Home for Funeral and Cremation Services of Lone Tree is caring for the funeral arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.lewisfuneralhomes.com.
Leroy A. Forbes was born May 28, 1927, in Conesville, the son of Ray E. and Albia (Dvorak) Forbes. He was a graduate of the Lone Tree High School. Mr. Forbes served with the United States Navy during WWII in the Philippines. September 29, 1951, Mr. Forbes was united in marriage to Virginia L. “Ginny” Keeler in Iowa City, Iowa. He was a farmer and also worked at Rath Packing for 13 years. He was a member of the Lone Tree American Legion Post 457 and the Riverside V.F.W. Post 6414. Mr. Forbes enjoyed hunting, fishing, daily checks of the river and the deer, watching the wildlife at Cone Marsh and at his bird feeders, playing euchre, making puzzles, Saturday phone calls to his Navy buddies, and spending time with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He lived his entire life on the family farm.
Mr. Forbes will be missed by his two daughters, Jackie Leggett and her husband Doug, West Branch, Iowa;Janice Pugh and her husband Terry, Columbus City, Iowa; two sons, Rickie Forbes and his wife Anita, Lone Tree, Iowa; Randy Forbes and his wife Melanie, Lone Tree; eight grandchildren, Troy (Jamie) Pugh, Diane (Al) Giza, Trudi (Brian) Westfall, Tara (Tom) Howell, Josh (Jamie) Forbes, Jonathan Leggett (Carolina Maturana-Monroy), Jennifer Leggett (Justin Stein), Sara (John) Morgan; 17 great-grandchildren, Mariah, Kendal and Owen Pugh, Zachary and Alison Weber, Avery, Wyatt, and Abbigail Westfall, Taylor, Victoria, Madeleine and Cael Howell and Rebecca, Annabelle, Lucas and Gabriel Forbes and Kaylynn Stein; five step-grandchildren, Todd Catlett (Rita Waltz), Kim (Gerald) Shephard, Melissa (Timothy) Hill, Michelle Deal and Jennifer (Jason) McElravy; 13 step-great-grandchildren, Amanda and Steven Catlett, Jeff Jacobs, Ryan and Corrie Shephard, Morgan and Isabella Deal, Caden and Terann McElravy, Ashley and Travis Giza, Maxwell Hill, Kyle Leith; one nephew, Kenny (Linda) Forbes, Conesville; two sisters-in-law, Dorothy Forbes, Lone Tree; Myrle Abney, Muscatine, Iowa; and a brother-in-law, Dale (Janet) Keeler, Muscatine.

Bub was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Ginny in 2005 and one brother, Wilbur Forbes.