Longtime District 88 board member Gene Forstner dies

By RACHEL WEDDIG

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Longtime District 88 school board member Gene Forstner died Friday at his home due to complications with cancer. Forstner served on the school board from 1966-1978 and from 1994 until the present.

"Gene was someone who has made a significant contribution to the system and put in many years of service," said Superintendent Harold Remme. "He is someone who has been a steady influence on the actions that take place."

Members of the school board respected Forstner for his dedication and wisdom.

"Whenever he made a decision or an action he did it with the best interest of the students," said school board Chair Sue Ullery. "I had come to really respect that about him."

Members of the board felt it was fitting that Forstner spent his last night attending a school board meeting.

"His board membership and service to the community was high on his priority list" Remme said. "It's a significant loss to the board of education to lose his experience."

Even though board members were aware of Forstner's battle with cancer, it didn't make his death any easier.

"It was such a shock -- he was kind of that rock that was there and you could depend on," said board member Sheldon Rieke. "He had good common sense and was dependable. He always knew when to tell a little joke to lighten the mood. That was always a special quality."

Rieke said he had to take a few moments to regain his composure after receiving the call from Remme about Forstner's death.

"When Harold called, I just had to sit here for a while, it really blew me away," Rieke said. "I didn't know him all that long but realized he was a good person."

Forstner was someone the board members turned to for advice when discussing important issues with the district.

"When we would be having a discussion, at some point someone would turn to Gene and say what do you think?" Ullery said. "I appreciated his dedication to the school district by his long service and commitment to education. It was a real attribute to him."

Besides education, board members took life lessons from Forstner.

"I was very saddened to hear about Gene's death and will miss his knowledge," said school board Treasurer Brian Wieland. "I learned many things from Gene about life itself and being a good board member."

Like other board members, Wieland will miss Forstner's humorous side.

"We will miss his sense of humor," Wieland said. "He always knew what to say to break tension."

From working with Forstner on the school board and during contract negotiations, board member Susan Nierengarten respected Forstner's dedication to the school.

"I've gotten to know him very well and think it's a real loss to the school board and district," Nierengarten said. "He was very committed to his work on the board and we're going to miss him."

Funeral arrangements are being handled with Minnesota Valley Funeral Home. The funeral will be held at the Cathedral of the Holy Trinity with the date yet to be determined.