Forrest Victor Schwengels, II
3May1945 - 4April 2017
Lt.
Col. (USAF, Ret) Forrest Victor Schwengels II passed away on April
4, 2017 at the age of 71. Forrest was born on May 3, 1945 in Fort
Worth, Texas to Forrest and Betty Schwengels.
As the child of an Air Force officer, Forrest lived in numerous locations
around the country and world as his father was assigned to various
duty stations. At one such duty station in Bunker Hill, Ind., he met
his future wife, Joyce. After graduation from high school, in Fairfield
Iowa, he attended the US Air Force Academy.
Following his graduation in 1968, he married his high school sweetheart,
Joyce, and whisked her off to Alabama where he attended flight school.
Soon after, he served in Vietnam as a pilot. Upon returning from the
war, he became a flight instructor and also earned a Master of Science
in engineering management from the University of Alabama.
During his 26-year career in the Air Force he served with honor and
distinction as a pilot (C-7, T-37, A-37, OV-10), flight instructor,
missile design engineer, forward air controller, and a computer network
architect. After retiring in June 1990, he settled in Oak Ridge, Tenn.
and began working for Martin-Marietta as a network engineer at the
Department of Energy's K-25 site. He worked in various roles including
team lead, project technical lead, and finally section manager in
many DOE locations. In April 2013, he retired after 23 years of company
service.
Privately, Forrest was a loving husband, a remarkable father, and
role model for his four children, and his 12 grandchildren. He loved
serving the Lord in his many callings as a member of The Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. His service included scoutmaster,
young men's advisor, counselor to the bishop, ward clerk, and stake
clerk. Forrest and Joyce served a two-year mission for their church
at the Knoxville, Tenn. Bishop's Storehouse as storehouse managers
from August 2013-August 2015.
He loved woodworking and spent many hours in his woodshop. Other hobbies
include macramé, playing guitar, and spoiling grandchildren.
He also enjoyed camping and travelling with his children and grandchildren.
He is survived by Joyce, his beloved wife of more than 48 years; their
children Dawn, Forrest (Chip), Matthew, Steven, and their spouses;
his 12 grandchildren; his sister Suzanne Schwengels, brother Paul
Schwengels and their families; plus so many other relatives and friends.
Forrest was interred, April 10, 2017, with full Military Honors in
the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, Forrest
requested that donations be made to the Arthritis Foundation to show
his love and support of a granddaughter who has juvenile idiopathic
arthritis. He was a patriot who loved his country and his family with
every fiber of his being.
He leaves behind a wonderful legacy and example for all who knew him.
Passing of time does not dim his love of us or our love for him. Our
family thanks and expresses are love to all who took their precious
time to express their condolences.
(The Schwengels family)