James Anderson Forsman

Written by: Joy Scott Forsman

Jim and Marie Forsman. Click to Enlarge.

    James Anderson Forsman, born at home in Silverhill, 15th of August, 1922, was fifth and last child of his parents, David Nathaniel Forsman and Ebba Marie Anderson Forsman. James was preceded by his siblings: Herbert, Henry, Vivian, and Voncile. David, their father, a farmer and carpenter, was born on his parents' farm in Kansas, a few miles south of Oberlin on 13 March 1892 and died 28 June 1980 in Mobile, Alabama.

    David's father, Olaf Petrus Forsman, had emigrated from Sweden about 1880 to Rockford, Illinois, where he worked to send money back to Gavle, Sweden, so his fiancee and his widowed father could join him. After Anna Erika Bolin arrived in Rockford escorted by Per Eric Forsman, she worked to save enough money to buy a sewing machine. She and O.P. Forsman were married on 7th March 1883.

    In 1885, Per Eric Forsman with his son, daughter-in-law and their two babies, Anna Esther born 1884 and Ernest Petrus born 1885, moved to Decatur County, Kansas, where the two men claimed homesteads. The O.P. Forsmans had eight more children: Ellen Marie, 1886; Lydia Margreta, 1887; Hulda Erika, 1889; John Leonard, 1890; David Nathaniel, 1892; Bror Arthur, 1893; Walter Alfred, 1895; Elma Almina Carolina, 1897.

    The family farmed and O.P. became active in local affairs serving as chair of local school district where 17% of the pupils were his own children, also serving as first chairman of newly formed Swedish Covenant Church.

    In 1903, O.P. and a few of the older children went to Silverhill to prepare a new home for their family who, later, accompanied by Per Eric, traveled by train to Mobile, by boat to Fairhope, then were met by horse and wagon and carried home to Silverhill - Christmas Eve.

    David Forsman and Ebba Anderson were married 7th June 1914. The bride, from Ursviken north of Skelleftea, Sweden, was born 3rd May, 1897, to Nils Peter and Marie Anderson. She died 26th of December, 1978 in Mobile, Alabama. Three Anderson siblings married into the O.P. Forsman family.

    Ebba had been obliged to be confirmed in the Lutheran Church in Sweden before she could sail to America, June 1912, to join her parents and eight brothers and sisters. After several months working by day and attending English classes at night, Ebba traveled by boat from Boston to Savannah, Georgia, then by train to Silverhill to be with her married sister expecting her first baby.

    James Forsman's childhood and youth were filled with church, school, chores, treks through the woods, swimming, basketball, baseball, Boy Scouts, building model ships, and Swedish family celebrations.

Draft registration card front 1942, James Anderson Forsman.	Draft registration card back 1942, James Anderson Forsman.

     James served in Navy on the old 'Yorktown' before World War II, then a three-year apprenticeship before working as a carpenter. Establishing himself as general building contractor in Fairhope, later in Chicago, Illinois, James had partnership with his brother, Henry, in Okaloosa County, Florida, since 1963, but is now retired.

    Throughout his adult life, Jim has enjoyed reading, traveling, challenge of golf, sailing, designing and building boats for his personal use from dinghies to 33' sloops.

     Jim married Marie Andrezunas of Robertsdale 16th of January, 1943. Marie was born 11th of May 1926, in Chicago, to Bruno and Eleanor Ambs Andrezunas. They had three children: Paul who died in infancy; Jean Marie; and Mark Stephen. Marie died 11th July, 1981. Jim remarried Joy Scott Maudlin, a high school librarian.

     James A. Forsman, of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, the youngest of five children of the late David Nathaniel Forsman (born in Decatur County, Kan.), and Ebba Marie Andersson Forsman (born in Ursviken, Sweden), passed away Dec. 6, 2015.

     Mr. Forsman, was born in Silverhill, Baldwin County, Ala., August 1922. His grandparents were Swedish citizens, three of whom emigrated to the United States; the paternal line in the early 1880s, and the maternal branch around 1900.

     Forsman descendants have continued to observe some Swedish customs in their homes by participating in local festivals and also in their family house of prayer, Silverhill Covenant Church, where Jimmy was baptized and confirmed.

     Seaman Forsman served in the Navy on the USS Yorktown in the Atlantic Ocean until the Navy realized he was a sleepwalker, as were two of his siblings, which caused him to be discharged. His desire to serve his country undeterred, he attempted to enlist in the Coast Guard; they declined his request, as did the Army, who directed him to go home and wait to be called; the call never came.

     Mr. Forsman began his career as a carpenter after serving his apprenticeship under Mr. Raymond Dyson of Pensacola, Fla. He then worked in Mobile and Fairhope, Ala., and the Chicago, Ill., area. He established his own building construction companies in several of those locations. Later, he went into partnership with his brother Henry in Okaloosa County, Fla. In 1976 the local architects association awarded Mr. Forsman a plaque honoring his excellence in workmanship.

     Jim participated in several sports as a young man. His achievements in golf included a two-or-three handicap, three holes-in-one and admiration of his swing. His interests were many and included architecture, genealogy, history, nature, reading and sports; and he enjoyed travelling in North America, Central America and Europe. He designed, built and sailed two yachts and several smaller boats. He was a long-time member of the Fort Walton Yacht Club (FWYC) where he was twice urged to run for commodore, which he declined; he did however serve a term as Vice-Commodore. The FWYC Board of Directors awarded him a life-membership in appreciation of his contributions.

     Jim had a great sense of humor, a gift for friendship and an excellent memory. Although he never suffered from dementia, he suggested when asked that memorial donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association in memory of his brother Henry and their mother.

     He was preceded in death by his first wife of 38 years, Marie Andrezunas Forsman, the mother of their children; their infant son, Paul; and Mr. Forsman's siblings Herbert Forsman, Henry Forsman, Vivian Forsman Casolare and Voncile Forsman Markell, as well as his step-son, Stuart Charles Maudlin.

     Mr. Forsman is survived by his second wife of nearly 34 years, Joy Scott Maudlin Forsman; his daughter Jean Forsman Quinlan; son Mark and his wife; six grandchildren and their spouses, Scott, Cameron, Lisa, Cheri, Michelle and David; 12 great-grandchildren; step-daughter, Susanna Maudlin Duke; and step-grandchildren, Stuart S. Maudlin and Jessica K. Duke. Mr. Forsman is also survived by nephews, nieces and cousins in Florida, Alabama, Illinois and Pennsylvania of the families Forsman, Fox, Holmes, Lucassen, Markell, Prescott, Sokol, Tress, Ward, and White; with special mention to both his devoted nephew, Johnnie Lucassen, and family friend, Susan Daugard.

     Friends and acquaintances are invited to a reception to be held at Shalimar United Methodist Church, Family Life Center, 1 Old Ferry Road, Shalimar, on Sunday, Dec. 27, 2015 from 2 to 4 p.m.

     All are also welcome to the service and reception that will be held in Silverhill Covenant Church, 16094 AL-104, Silverhill, AL 36576, (251) 945-5143, on Jan. 3, 2016 from 2 to 4 p.m. Burial will be in Silverhill Cemetery.