Forrest Wilson

Forrest “Frosty” E. Wilson was a very “salt of the earth” kind of person; he was a hard worker even from his earliest moments. However, Frosty always knew what was most important in life, that there is nothing more valuable, more lasting or more rewarding than giving all you can possibly give of yourself to your children, your grandchildren and your family.

The early 1920s were a collage of interesting events. There were power struggles in Russia, Babe Ruth was setting records and the first Miss America was crowned. But for most of the people living in the farming community of Van Dale, Arkansas, such happenings were nothing more than headlines in a newspaper. Their lives centered around raising their families and earning a living. This was the life of John and Loretta (Cook) Wilson. The Wilson’s rented a farm in the countryside of Cross County, which they paid for with the third bushel of corn and fourth bale of cotton from their harvest, and in July of 1921, were awaiting the birth of their second to youngest child. Son Forrest (better known as Frosty) made his arrival on July 18th, on the family farm.

Growing up the second youngest of a very large family, life was not always easy, and the depression era family often found themselves in the wake of hardships. When Frosty was 7, his father died, leaving his wife and children to manage the farm by themselves. Everyone pitched in to help with the chores, which for Frosty included getting water to the men in the fields every day. Despite this tragedy, his mother remained the strong backbone of the family. She was a woman of great faith and read from the Bible and prayed at great length with her children daily. Frosty fostered a close relationship with his mother, from whom he learned lessons in compassion and the importance of helping others in need. Growing up with eight older brothers, Frosty also learned to be tough, perhaps the toughest of them all. He put this “toughness” to the test at the county fair boxing tournament each year and always won. His brothers were big instigators of his fighting and often times found kids from town for him to fight.

It was on a double date that Frosty met his future wife, Bobbie Jean Rogers. She actually started out as his friend Fred’s date and Frosty was with her friend, Jewel Marie. That was until Frosty stopped the car and suggested switching dates, which they did, and that was the beginning of their lifelong love affair. On May 12, 1943, the young couple, flanked by their good friends, Fred and Jewel Marie, was married in the home of the Justice of the Peace. The newlyweds soon settled down in Jonesborough, Arkansas, where Frosty found work in an auto garage. Just six months after marrying, Frosty enlisted in the Navy and shipped out the day after Thanksgiving. However, his military career was short-lived; a mere two months later, the Navy discharged him saying there was a far greater need for farmers at this time than serviceman. Frosty returned home and went back to farming with his brother Bruce.

Frosty and Bobbie Jean soon started a family of their own with the birth of their daughter Pat, born in 1944, followed by two sons, Dennis in 1950, and Mike in 1956. Through the years, the family made several moves between Michigan, when work ran out, and Arkansas, helping on the family farm. The first move being in 1947, to Holland, Michigan, where Frosty worked in the Tannery until it closed in November, then returned to Arkansas. His nephew, John Leon Wilson, who had moved to Michigan with them the very first time and stayed, found work, so Frosty moved that way once again settling in with John on the north side of Holland on Howard Avenue, just near Dunton Park on Lake Macatawa. When Frosty and his family finally settled in Holland for good, they lived on the north side in several different locations, which included on the family home near Washington and 160th Street (1956) and on Maywood Avenue (1968).

Once back in Holland, Frosty found work at BASF as a group leader in the Color Flushing Department. His job involved working closely with many different chemicals and on one very scary occasion Frosty saw that these chemicals were getting ready to explode and thinking of his fellow co-workers first, got them out of harms way. At the last moment, he turned to make sure everyone was out and it blew, severely burning his face and arms. Although his injuries were considered critical, this heroic and robust man, was back at work in 11 days. Frosty remained a dedicated and hard working employee of BASF for 35 years, retiring in 1986.

When not working, Frosty enjoyed being in the great outdoors, fishing and hunting small game. A man of many talents, Frosty was an excellent mechanic and often bought junker cars and made them into reliable transportation for the family. Though Frosty always traded his car in for a new one every 3 years, and valued his John Deer tractor which he bought new. After retiring, he and Bobbie Jean bought a motor home and spent a lot of time traveling; but never to far or long from home. When his children were growing up, the family went back to Arkansas to visit with relatives every year, while one particular camping trip he took with his family to the Ozarks over 30 years ago left such indelible memories with them that they still talk about it to this day. A true family man, Frosty’s happiest moments always involved the time he spent with his family. Later in life, he was blessed with six grandchildren and one great grandson, and they became the focus of his life. He poured the same amount of love into these relationships as he did with his own children. A doting grandfather, he built a swing set in the backyard just for his “kids” and always had the camera rolling, catching every precious moment with them. Friday nights were also special because he would call and ask “are the “kids” at my house?”

One thing that upheld Frosty throughout his life was his faith in God. He had been raised with Christian beliefs, and his strong faith was a hallmark of his life. When his family settled in Holland, there wasn’t a Pentecostal Church in the area and so they drove to Grand Haven to attend services. The minister there suggested to Frosty that they try to start a church in Holland so they wouldn’t have to drive so far. Equipped with only a list of names consisting of friends and family, Frosty presented them to the Church Board in Grand Rapids and before long the Board called their first meeting in one of the homes in Holland with Sunday school classes at Dorothy Atwood’s home. The members eventually gathered in a tent on 32nd Street for many years and when the weather turned cold, they moved to The Women’s Literary Club of Holland. Frosty was truly instrumental in getting their church, Holland First Assembly of God, started and he took great pride in being a charter member for many years.

Frosty learned early on in life that material possessions matter little and that family comes first. He found great happiness in a life devoted to the principles of family and a strong sense of faith. Although Frosty was a “put up your dukes” kind of person, it was his incredibly kind heart (and his red and white peppermints) that made him the man people were proud to know.

Forrest E. Wilson of Holland, MI, died on Tuesday, December 7, 2004, at The Heartland of Holland Care Facility. His family includes his wife of 61 years, Bobbie Jean (Rogers) Wilson; children: Patricia (David) Richardson of Lake City, AR, Dennis (Lela) Wilson of Holland, MI, Michael (Mary) Wilson of Holland, MI.; six grandchildren: Kris, Stacey, Stephanie (Mark), Rachel, Kyle and Amber; one great grandson, Cody, and anticipating another great grandson, Hayden; brother: Fred Wilson of South Haven, MI; in-laws: Cotton (Louise) Rogers of Holland, MI, Eloise (Hugh) Slater of AR; many nieces, nephews and cousins. Funeral services are at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 10, at the Holland First Assembly of God Church, 1331 16th Street, Holland, MI, with the Rev. Cal Garcia officiating. Burial will be in Pilgrim Home Cemetery in Holland. Friends may spend time with Frosty’s family on Thursday, November 9, from 7-9 p.m. at Dykstra Life Story Funeral Home, 295 Douglas Ave., Holland, MI. Please visit Frosty’s personal memory page at www.lifestorynet.com where you may share a memory, order flowers or make a memorial contribution to either Holland First Assembly of God Church or Hospice of Holland.