Charles “Chuck” Morell Forslin was born at a very young age to Laurence and Marjorie (Morell) Forslin in Grandy, Minnesota on March 6, 1939. As a young teenager, he was baptized at the Elim Baptist Church in Minneapolis. Chuck graduated from Robbinsdale Senior High School with a letter in swimming and as a member of the National Honor Society. He attended Bethel College for a year and finally graduated from the University of Minnesota in 1967 with a degree in teaching Industrial Arts.
On October 21, 1961 he married Marlit Neumann in Minneapolis. Marlit is the mother of his daughters and a native of Germany. After his college graduation, they moved to Dassel where the intent was to teach for a couple years and then move on to bigger and better things. Chuck retired in 1998 after teaching in the Dassel and Dassel-Cokato schools for 31 years. He really enjoyed teaching, most of the time, and was humbled to learn that a number of his students went into their professions or careers because of the classes they had with him. Several of his former students have become life-long friends.
Chuck was a strong supporter of local high school sports. For a time, he served as a judge for diving and as an announcer at girls basketball. He spent many hours in the bleachers cheering on the football and basketball teams.
Chuck was very active in his church, serving as Sunday School superintendent, trustee, a member of various committees and boards, and as church clerk. He volunteered with Awana and other kids’/home school activities. He also spent countless hours at the church cemetery cleaning and re-setting headstones, as well as researching the history of some of the older gravesites. He was passionate about the ministry of Trout Lake Bible Camp in Pine River, MN and spent many days and weekends there working on special projects and updating grounds and facilities alongside some very special friends.
He married Patsy Long, a widow, in Stanchfield on April 11, 1987. Following his retirement, they lived in Anoka for four years before her passing in 2003. The years he spent with Patsy brought him incredible joy.
Chuck designed and enjoyed building his three homes. The time he was able to spend with his daughters, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren were some of his happiest moments. He loved to watch them all enjoy life and wanted his last message to them to be that they should all love the Lord.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Patsy and their precious Yorkie, Cookie and his mini-Dachshund, Kadia.
He is survived by his sisters Linda (George Mayer) Ritter and Julie (Tom) Snicker, his daughters Kari (Rick) Zins and Robyn (Dave) Frank, grandchildren Michael (Amanda) Zins, Kristina (Derek) Dabbs, Richard (Holly) Forslin, Peter (Brittany) Frank, Laura Frank, and Rebecca Frank, stepsons Brian (Bonnie) Long and Brad (Joel) Long, and their children Josh, Anna, Emily, Grant, Jacob and Aaron, a number of nieces and nephews and many great grandchildren.
Chuck passed away following a short but very courageous battle with cholangiocarcinoma at the age of 84 on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. His funeral will be held on Sunday, January 21, at 3 pm at First Baptist Church in Cokato, MN. Visitation will be at the church one hour prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.
Chuck will be buried at the Stanchfield Baptist Church Cemetery near his grandparents, parents, and wife, Patsy.