SCHWENGELS, Forrest V.: Died 1989

SCHWENGELS, STOVER, PICKETT, TOUSSAINT

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 10/5/2024 at 14:41:58

VB Co L-R

1989 AP 13

Former Senator Forrest Schwengels, dies April 10

Former Iowa Senator Forrest V. Schwengels, Lt. Col. USAF, retired, 73, of Fairfield, died of heart failure April 10, 1989, in the emergency room of Jefferson County Hospital in Fairfield.

He was born August 27, 1915, near Sheffield to Gerhardt and Meta Stover Schwengels. He grew up in Chicago and Kirksville, Mo., where he lived with his brother Fred. He graduated from Kirksville High School, attended Northeast Missouri State Teacher's College and graduated from Parsons College in Fairfield in 1940. He played football and track at both colleges and set several track records. He taught and coached in Fremont and Winfield High Schools and was director of Civilian Pilot Training at Washington Junior College in Washington, Iowa.

He served in the U.S. Air Force from 1943 to 1963, retiring as a Lt. Col. He served as Assistant Air Force Attache in the U.S. Embassy in Athens, Greece, and was awarded the Order of Phoenix by the King of Greece. He taught history and political science at Parsons College in Fairfield from 1963 to 1973 and was a licensed real estate salesman.

He was elected to Iowa State Senate in Nov. 1972 and served until Jan. 1989. He was a legislative leader in soil and water conservation, environmental issues and law enforcement.

He married Betty M. Pickett on July 3, 1943, in Winfield, Kansas.

He is survived by his wife; two sons, Lt. Col. Forrest V. Schwengels II of Poquoson, Va., Paul of Tacoma Park, Md.; a daughter, Suzanne Schwengels, Des Moines; six grandchildren; two brothers, former Congressman Fred Schwengel of Arlington, Va., Carl of Washington Island, Wis.; and a sister, Helen Toussaint of Washington, Island, Wisc.

Two brothers preceded him in death, Herbert and Harold.

Services will be 2 p.m. Friday, at First Presbyterian Church in Fairfield, the Revs. Richard Wallrab and Carl Riggs, officiating. Burial with military rites will be in Evergreen Cemetery in Fairfield.

Masonic services will be 7 p.m. Thursday at the Pedrick Funeral Home, Keosauqua.

Family visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Thursday.

The body will lie in state at the church from 11 a.m. Friday until the service begins.

Memorials have been established to his church or Indian Hills Community Scholarship Fund.

Source: "Scrapbook 1989 - 1990", Pg. 622,
Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, Van Buren Co., IA