Raymond U. Forslund

Raymond Ulric Forslund, 82, of Punta Gorda, Florida, passed away June 14th at Tidewell Hospice House of Port Charlotte. He was born on June 27, 1927 in Pensacola, FL and moved to Punta Gorda in 1997 from Lincolnshire, IL where he lived for 40 years. He will be well remembered by his loving wife Jacquelyn (nee Silcroft) of 60 years and their daughter Catherine (B. Roy Roncal) Forslund, Ph. D. of Rockford, IL. Ray was awarded both a Silver and Bronze Star for his service in the Navy during World War II where he was on active duty in the Atlantic, Mediterranean, and Pacific theaters. He was honorably discharged as a Gunner's Mate First Class and was a life member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars. After the war, Ray held a black belt in Judo and played drums in the Chicago Stock Yard Kilty Band. He retired from the family printing business after being general manager for 40 years and then a printing broker for another decade. Ray served as President of the North Side Printers Guild of Chicago, IL and was actively engaged in the Rotary Club of Deerfield, IL where he was President and a Paul Harris Fellow. A longtime member of the Northbrook (IL) Sports Club, Ray was a AA trap and skeet shooter. In retirement, he joined the Sarasota Trap and Skeet Club. Throughout his adult life, he loved shooting and lunching with his club buddies. Ray was a bright, gentle, and generous man with a quick wit, always ready with a one-liner or smart retort who was well loved, adding smiles and laughter everywhere he went. There will be a gathering at his home on Saturday July 17, from 1 to 4 p.m. to celebrate his life. For details contact cforslund@rockford.edu. To express condolences to the family, please sign the online guest book.