Ronald Sture Forsman

Ronald Sture Forsman

September 15, 1938 – March 25, 2021

Ron passed away at the Country Meadows Personal Care Home, Neepawa, on March 25, 2021 with family by his side.

Ron, the eldest child of Ruth and Sture Forsman was born in Neepawa and received his education in Neepawa. As a youth, he worked for the Department of Highways until 1954. In 1955, he was employed by Murray’s Garage. He then took a five-year apprenticeship course in auto mechanics and in 1960 received his mechanics papers. He worked as an auto mechanic at Murray’s until 1964, when he assumed position of service manager. He held that position until the end of 1974 and then managed the Murray’s Leisure Centre, selling Edson and Starcraft campers. In 1979, he opened a business in recreational sales and service under the name of Centerville Sales and Service at 284 Mountain Avenue (former Scotty MacGregor’s blacksmith shop location) and in 1985 he added the Radio Shack and Total Sound franchises. In 1991 he closed this business to concentrate his total time on the ambulance and handy van services. In 1981, Ron was one of the key persons to start the handy van service in Neepawa. Ron was hired under contract by the Neepawa and District Disabled Persons Association to operate the service until 2002.

Ron joined the Neepawa Fire Department in 1958 and was in the department for 14 years. He was a member of the Neepawa Lions Club and the Neepawa Rotary Club. Ron was a key person along with Peter Isaac and George Atkins to start the driver education program in Neepawa in July 1968 and to be one of the instructors for seven years.

March 15, 1975, he purchased the ambulance service from White’s Funeral Home and operated this community service until June 30, 2005.

In 1995 Ron was awarded The Emergency Medical Exemplary Service Medal for 20 Years of exemplary service in responding to public prehospital emergencies in Canada; and in 2012 he received The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal for his work in the EMS field. Both of these medals were awarded to Ron in Ottawa.

 Ron served as a councillor for the Town of Neepawa for 25 years and one year as Mayor, which enabled him to be a member of many boards and organizations in the community. Ron was immensely proud of his hometown and  always promoted Neepawa in any way that he could.

Ron is predeceased by his wife Innocent (Inky), grandson Keanu Forsman, great grandson Zdeno Ford, son Kelvin (Kelly), and sister Mallorie Harper.

Family members left to cherish his memory are his wife, Norma; son, Dwayne, his wife Christine, and daughter Alanna (Jordan); daughter-in-law Kim and her daughters Robyn and Corrie (Ryan Ford) and their children Stella, Rapunzel, Bowen, and Valor; daughter Sharran, her husband Bernie Mullins and sons Riordan Dennis and Ryerson Dennis; daughter Kristine, her husband Brad Tesarski and  daughters, Emily, and Olivia; two brothers, Doug (Jean) and Don (Liz). There are many nieces, nephews, and Norma’s family that have many fond memories of Ron.

A private service will take place with interment in the Riverside Cemetery.

Donations in Ron’s memory  may be made to the Alzheimer Society of Manitoba or the Town of Neepawa.

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