Vincent Forst

Forst, Vincent A., Born April 21, 1919, Fortified with the Sacraments of Holy Mother Church on Monday, June 21, 2010. Beloved husband of the late Ellen Adell Forst (nee Schnur); dear father of Tim (Mary) Forst and Elizabeth (Richard) Carbone; dear grandfather of Thomas Forst and Rebecca (Kyle) Devine; dear brother of Rev. Aloys Forst, Eugene 'Gene' (Fran) Forst and the late Albert (Martha) Forst, Rita Rose Forst and Margaret Mary (Dr. Fred) O'Connell; dear brother-in-law of Arthur Wm. 'Bill' and Martha Schnur and the late Milton and Maureen Hartweck. Dear uncle, cousin and friend to many. Vince Forst was born in St. Louis, Missouri, graduated from McBride High School in 1937 and attended St. Louis University. Vince served in the Army and made initial landings at Kwajalein, Eniwetok, Saipan, Iwo Jima, Tinian and Leyte Gulf. He received numerous decorations including the Bronze Star and the Presidential Unit Citation. Vince played soccer at Camp Chaffee during World War II with the POWs and it was during this tour at the POW camps that his soccer referee career began. Vince's long and illustrious career in soccer begins in grade school at Fairgrounds Park. He played high school soccer at McBride where they won championships in 1935 through 1937. He played in the Kreighauser Undertakers Muny Senior League in 1937, Fehl-Weis in 1938, Eddy Stokers Muny & Midwest Champs in 1939. Vince, known as "Ironhead" played until he was 31 before hanging up the spikes in favor of a whistle. From 1947 through 1985, Vince refereed for the Catholic Youth Conference (CYC) high schools, colleges, and numerous NCAA finals, NAIA finals, NJCAA finals and Open Cups. He was a founding member of The Greater St. Louis High School Referees Association and Midwest Chapter of NIOSA. He was named Referee in Chief of CYC in St. Louis in 1985. In 1973, Vince was awarded the Silver Boot for 25 years of service to soccer in St. Louis. He was elected to the St. Louis Soccer Players Hall of Fame in 1980 and was named a member of the Soccer Old Timers Hall of Fame. Vince received his most cherished award in 1987 - the National Intercollegiate Soccer Officials Association Honor Award and election into the National Collegiate Referees Hall of Fame. Vince Forst was a part owner of A. W. Schnur Construction Company until he retired in 1993. Vince was a member of the Legion of 1000 Men at Mount Grace Convent (The Pink Sisters). He had a long and blessed life and will be dearly missed by his family and many friends. Services: Funeral Friday at 9:30 AM at JOHN L. ZIEGENHEIN & SONS South County, 4830 Lemay Ferry Road to Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Columbia, Illinois, for 10:00 AM Mass. Interment Calvary Cemetery. Masses and memorial contributions may be made to Mount Grace Convent (The Pink Sisters), P.O. Box 16459, St. Louis, MO 63125-0459. VISITATION: Thursday 2 - 8 PM. June 24, 2010
2:00 PM to 8:00 PM

JOHN L. ZIEGENHEIN & SONS
4830 Lemay Ferry Road
Saint Louis, MO 63129
(314) 894-8444
June 25, 2010
9:30 AM

JOHN L. ZIEGENHEIN & SONS
4830 Lemay Ferry Road
Saint Louis, MO 63129
(314) 894-8444
June 25, 2010
10:00 AM

Immaculate Conception Catholic Church
117 East Madison Street
Columbia, IL 62236-2297

June 25, 2010
11:45 AM

Calvary Cemetery
5239 West Florissant
St. Louis, MO 63115
(314) 381-1313