James Michael Forshee was born on June 12, 1954, in Estherville, Iowa, the son of Donald and Ellen (Swenson) Forshee. Jim grew up in Swea City, Iowa, where he attended school and graduated from Swea City High School.

On Oct. 4, 1975, Jim was united in marriage to Laurie Jane Thompson at the United Methodist Church in Swea City, Iowa. Together the couple would make their home in Fairmont and were blessed with two sons, Michael and Matthew.

Jim worked at Railway Motors for 29 years in the Purchasing Department. His love for numbers and keeping things in order came in handy as he ran and was elected to office as the Martin County Auditor/Treasurer, a position he held for 16.5 years. Following his retirement in July 2019, Jim continued serving his community as a Martin County Commissioner for 20 months.

Jim truly cared for his community and found great joy in helping those in need. He was a member of the Fairmont Fire Department, retiring after 31 years of service and receiving 3 Life Saving Awards during his time there. With the knowledge he gained through his years of service, Jim taught area firefighters at the Jackson and Mankato Tech Schools. He developed life-long friendships not only with members of the Fairmont Fire Department but also with members of other area departments. Jim’s compassion for others also led him to work as a member of the Fairmont Ambulance for 10 years and helped as he met constituents of Martin County during his work as the Auditor/Treasure and as a County Commissioner.

Family was important to Jim, and he will be remembered as a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He looked forward to time spent with his children and grandchildren, camping, visiting, working on jigsaw puzzles, and cheering on any of the Minn. Sports teams. Jim had a wonderful sense of humor and enjoyed quiet days reading. He was a member of the Fairmont United Methodist Church, East Chain Sportsman Club, and member of the Chain Lake Masonic Lodge #64.

Left to cherish his memory is his wife, Laurie Forshee of Fairmont, Minn.; sons, Michael (Lizzie) Forshee of Eagan, Minn., and Matthew Forshee of Cottage Grove, Minn.; grandchildren, Addison, Avery, Ryan, Hadley, Charolette, and Finley; brothers and sisters, Steve (Pat) Forshee, Mary (Michael) McMahon, Phil Forshee, and Barb (Michael) Morris; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Scott (Peggy) Thompson, Russ (Mindy) Thompson, John (Charlene) Thompson, Mike Thompson, and Jamie (Marlyce) Thompson; as well as many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents, Don and Ellen Forshee; grandparents, John and Ida Forshee and Viola Swenson; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles and Kathryn Thompson; two sisters-in-law, Mary Thompson and Dawn Forshee; and a nephew, Zach Thompson.

The family requests memorials be made in Jim’s name at the Lutz Cancer Center in Fairmont, Minn.

www.lakeviewfuneralhome.net.

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