Jack Trygve Forness

1931 - 2014

Son of Velma McDonald and Trygve Forness, Jack Trygve Forness' life journey ended peacefully, surrounded by his loving family on Aug. 27, 2014, in Nenana.
Jack, born June 19, 1931, in North Bend, Oregon, graduated from Coos River High School in 1950. He was grandson of John Jackson McDonald who brought the first locomotives to logging in the Coos River area. Jack carried on the family tradition of the respected community member and businessman. He became a logger and school bus mechanic as a teenager. His mechanical skill continued to serve him as a co-owner of Nenana Heating where he was lead mechanic. Until his death, mechanics would visit and ask his advice. 
In 1962, he followed his childhood friend, big game guide Jim Clark to Alaska. At a Fairbanks bar, he found work with Curtis' Sawmill, halfway between Fairbanks and Nenana. Bars were the employment centers of the day.
The family settled in Nenana, and, for years, loggers called on him to make chokers out of metal cable or rope. In 1964, Jack, no longer married, met Penelope Jones, a high school teacher from Chicago. They met the night of the March 27, 1964, earthquake while glued to the radio at the Gourmet Room, listening to news of burning Seward and distress calls for missing people in Valdez. A reflective man, he realized changes in lifestyle habits needed to improve. He proposed and responded by resurrecting his idea of marriage and family life.
By June 20, 1964, Jack and Penny were married. They celebrated their 50th anniversary last June. They raised their sons, Joseph and Anthony, on a portion of Ken Peters' homestead, which they purchased for $10 to sell plots for Ken. The neighborhood at 300 Mile was soon settled by Nenana school teachers who also raised families there - the Mayfields, Bowermans, Hallmans and Shaws.
Jack was a mechanic and maintenance man the last five years the FAA was in Nenana. Earlier, he had worked for Black Navigation. Larry Shelver, son-in-law of Mr. Black, chose Jack as a man of integrity, grit and talent to work his Chevron Bulk Plant. Jack bought the customer list and soon asked Dave Shaw to be his partner. They continued as business owners, best friends and partners until Jack retired in 1994. 
The customer list he bought became Nenana Heating Inc. and still serves the valley. The partners built the A-frame in Nenana before his retirement. Bankers often would comment that partnerships "at best" last seven years and that their partnership was extraordinary. The mix of farmer and logger was a good one. Early Alaskans were enterprising, self-made engineers. They rose to the challenges of living in the Far North. You  either knew how to do things or had to figure it out.
In 1962, his first family log house, complete with homemade furniture at 300 Mile Parks Highway was built. The second family's was completed in 1969, after three years of logging and Penny and Barb peeling. In 1969, they moved into the 1,200 square-foot home. School teacher neighbors and Jack did plumbing, electricity and cabinetry.
Jack was the only uncle of his sister's nine children. Don came to help while waiting for the Vietnam draft. Barb graduated from Nenana and became a businesswoman. Tom became a policeman in Nenana. Nancy Stratton, of Healy, became his godmother on his death bed when he said "yes" to baptism.
"You were my rock for a lot of years," "You made a man of me, Jack," "You made a good neighborhood, Jack," You were the best boss I ever had," "You were my best friend for a long time," are some of the last words Jack heard from special friends. He felt the love of his children, nieces, nephews, neighbors, friends, and wife as his health failed and they tended to his needs.
Jack enjoyed family and was always welcoming to people in his life. Good television - nature, history, science and engineering - filled his days when activity waned. Jack hunted from a young age, deer in Allegany areas of Oregon, moose in Alaska, fishing in Valdez and Homer. With his friend, Joe McHenry, he built a sno-go and followed a lust for gold, flew in a helicopter from Washington to Alaska. His potato patch was his love. He ate good food, had the love of his grandchildren, but COPD took the good air.
His distinctive laugh, easy-going, non-confrontational demeanor won the hearts of those who will miss him. He leaves a legacy of leadership qualities and quiet caring for the needs of others less fortunate and socially askew.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Penny; sons, Terrence (Cherrie), Joseph (Kelly), Anthony (Cherie), and daughter, Cyd (Jim Tullis); sister, Velma DeOs, her Siewell children, Don, Joanne, Barb, Nancy, Noel, Corky, Stephen, Tom, and Randy; grandgirls, Jozette Boyd and Susan Forness; great-grandboys, Kaleb and Gavin Boyd; grandchildren, Selina Forness, Anthony J. Forness Jr.; Brandon Charlie-Forness, Talyla Penelope Forness; extended family grandchildren, great-grandgirl, Tanya Steele; great-greatgirl, Lexi Hecox-Forness; more grandkids, Sammy Jo and Hannah Kaiser, Sarah and Carolyn toner, Kealie, Pierce, Amari, and Destiny Weeks; grandgirls and boys, Alyssa and Audrey Cox, Bayden and Jace Tabor; also spousal equivalents, Damon, Renee and Jesse.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents and Ashley Hecox, extended family grandgirl.
A private service for family and close friends will be at 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6, at St. Theresa's Catholic Church. Interment will be at Pioneer Cemetery. A picnic follows at 4 p.m. at Mile 300 Parks Highway. Bring a dish to share.
Make donations to the Wounded Warriors. He did not serve but had a real heart for the young who served in Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq and Afghanistan. It troubled him whenever politicians sent the young to frontlines. He wants the lives of the largest number ever of our returning wounded and their families to be respected by all who benefited from their losses.