Joseph Ward Forst

Joseph Ward Forst passed away on July 30, 2021, in Boise, Idaho, and was laid to rest next to his beloved Phoebe at Dry Creek Cemetery in Boise, Idaho. Joseph "Joe" was born on March 1, 1946, in San Mateo, California to Joseph Forst of Prague Czechoslovakia, and Margaret Ward of Ohio.

In the 1960's Joe moved to Boulder Creek in Santa Cruz Mountains where the family had a cabin on Blue Ridge Rd. There he started a family with Marianne Sinkamo. They had one son, Justin, in 1969. The home had frequent gatherings of friends and family, many memories were made on top of the mountain in Blue Ridge. Joe worked as a carpenter building homes in the area and enjoyed writing poetry and starting a vineyard. Those interests stayed with him for the rest of his life.

After the Loma Prieta Earthquake in 1989, Joe moved on to the next phase in his life. In 1992 he married Phoebe Sielaff. The couple moved to Boise, Idaho where Joe first worked at Micron Technology Inc and then attended Boise State University to earn an Associate Degree in Sociology. Graduating from University was one of Joe's proudest moments. With the Degree in hand, Joe was able to start a new career in Counseling at the Idaho Department of Correction where he helped individuals with compassion and insight into his own life experiences. He was a trusted and respected Counselor.

Phoebe's passing away in 2014 after an illness left a large void in Joe's life. The last years of Joe's life were spent writing poetry and journals, carving and painting cat sticks, taking saunas, caring for his many cats, and spending lots of time with his son Justin and family. The trip to the Sawtooth Mountains in the month of his passing was the last journey they took together.

Joe is survived by his sister Joan Forst, son and daughter-in-law Justin and Maaret Forst, grandchildren Kendra Sofia and Joshua, and countless extended family and friends that enjoyed Joe's humor, wisdom, and positive disposition.

Justin Forst writes: My dad and I really made some unforgettable moments in the last five years camping, building, bull shitting, and really just connecting. I was very fortunate to have such an incredible father. We knew each other in ways that I don't even know myself. I will miss him dearly, but I will continue to live with his positive and supportive voice in my head. His life lives on even after he's gone. Waves of sadness will subside but the joy he has given me will never end. He is the enigma.