Monday, February 12, 2007
Snowmobile crash kills former township official
By Kevin Caufield
countyreporter@newstrib.com
A 58-year-old man from rural Tampico died from injuries after a snowmobile accident this weekend in Bureau County.
Jeff Forward was pronounced dead at the scene by Bureau County Coroner’s Office after the accident at 2 a.m. Saturday where the Hennepin Canal feeder passes below 2370 N Road southwest of New Bedford.
Forward and two other snowmobilers, Jeremy Forward, 30, of Tampico and Jeremy D. Foes, 36, of Manlius were northbound on the ice of the Hennepin Canal near 2370 North Road in Bureau County. At the intersection of 2370 N Road and the Hennepin Canal, the lead snowmobiler, Jeremy Forward, drove through a tube that goes under the road, according to Illinois Conservation Police
Jeffrey G. Forward
November 29, 1948 - February 10, 2007
Visitation:
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
3:30 - 8:00 p.m.
Garland Funeral Home in Walnut
Service:
Thursday February 15, 2007
10:30 a.m.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tampico
Jeffrey G. Forward, age 58, of rural Tampico, Illinois died Saturday, February 10, 2007 in a snowmobile accident.
Jeff was born on November 29, 1948 in Sterling, Illinois, the son of George E. “Bud” and Shirley (Verdick) Forward Jr. He was united in marriage to Elaine Gustafson on April 14, 1967 in Tampico, Illinois. He farmed in the Tampico area during his lifetime and cleaned beer tap lines as a hobby in Whiteside, Bureau, and Lee counties. He was Fairfield Township Supervisor for over twenty years. He enjoyed waterskiing, snowmobiling, fishing, boating, riding his Harley, and vacationing at Bear Lake in Wisconsin with his family. Jeff enjoyed life to the fullest.
He is survived by his children, Wendy (Chris) Andersen of Aurora, Illinois, Stephanie (Greg) Wetzell of Prophetstown, Illinois, Jennifer (Mark) Linboom of Rock Falls, Illinois , Jeremy Forward of Tampico, Illinois, David (Brandy) Forward of Garner, North Carolina; five grandchildren, Katie & Kody Wetzell, Weston Forward, Baby Forward & Baby Andersen expected in the spring; his mother Shirley Forward of Tampico, Illinois; two sisters Nancy Jo Kellison of Long Beach, California, Linda (Chuck) Taylor of Geneseo, Illinois, Greg (Nancy) Forward of Tampico, Illinois; several nieces, nephews, friends, and his cat Homer.
He was preceded in death by his father and one sister Deborah Nye.
Mass of Christian burial will be on Thursday at 10:30 a.m at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Tampico. Burial will be in St. Mary’s Cemetery in Tampico. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 3:30 to 8 p.m. at the Garland Funeral Home in Walnut. A MEMORIAL HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED IN HIS MEMORY.
On line guestbook and obituary information is also available at www.garlandfuneralhome.com
