Joseph Kenneth Forst, 88, of New Ulm, passed away peacefully Monday October 3, 2022, at the New Ulm Medical Center with his family at his side.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held Monday October 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. at the Cathedral of The Holy Trinity in New Ulm. Msgr. Douglas Grams will celebrate the Mass. Burial will follow in the New Ulm Catholic Cemetery.

Visitation takes place Sunday, October 9, 2022 at Minnesota Valley Funeral Home-North Chapel from 4-7 p.m. and continues on Monday prior to the funeral Mass from 10-11 a.m. at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.

Joe is survived by his wife Mary, of 64 years, daughter Patty (Jim) Burdick of Bemidji, sons, Alan Forst and Ron (Penny) Forst of St. George. Seven Grandchildren: Kristy (Nate) Cariveau, Jennifer Burdick, Cody (Morgan) Forst, Seth (Dani Christensen) Forst, Shelby (Nate) Gelbmann. Bridget (Josh) Hansen and Ryan Forst. Three great grandchildren: Evelyn Cariveau, Clark Cariveau, and Archer Gelbmann. A sister LaVonne (Wally) Ebert of New Ulm.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter-in-law Roberta Forst.

Joe was born to Joseph G. and Gertrude (Fischer) Forst on July 1, 1934, in West Newton Township, on the family farm near St George. He attended St. George Catholic Elementary school and graduated from Holy Trinity High School with the class of 1952.

Joe met Mary Louise Kral at George's Ballroom in New Ulm and after their courtship; they married at the Church of St. Mary in Sleepy Eye, Minnesota on April 17, 1958. Following marriage, the couple raised their three children and farmed side-by-side in the St George area until retirement in 1996 when they moved to New Ulm. Joe served on the board of directors for the Farmers Coop of Lafayette, and post retirement worked at the New Ulm Country Club, maintaining the grounds, which he truly enjoyed. Joe took great pride in his family and especially enjoyed when his grandchildren and great-grandchildren visited. He was a wealth of historical information and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the Church of St. George, New Ulm Area Catholic Schools or the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity.