Forest "Bill" Toftness, D.C.

Forest L. Toftness, D.C. passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family in Lake Placid, FL on Saturday, January 19, 2020 at the age of 92.

Forest, nicknamed “Bill” by his siblings, was born in Shell Lake, WI to Hulda Stand and Wilhelm Toftness on January 8, 1928. He was the youngest of 11 children and was raised on a dairy farm. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1945 where he served 2 years. He graduated from Logan College of Chiropractic where he met the love of his life and future wife, Myrtle Lou Harrington, also a graduate of Logan College, who preceded him in death in 2006.

After college graduation he was drafted into the Army. He and Myrtle married and moved to Crailsheim, Germany where he was stationed for 2 years. They returned to Owenton, KY where he was a Chiropracticer for 38 years.

Forest served on the Board of Directors for the First Farmers Bank for 25 years, was an active member of Owen County Lions Club, President of the Chamber of Commerce, was a member of the Owen Masonic Lodge, served on the Owenton City Council for many years. Forest was a member of the Owenton First United Methodist Church.

Dr. Toftness was a member of both the Kentuckians Barbershop Chorus and the Sebring Harmonizers. He sang for over 200 weddings in addition to funerals and special church events. He once sang the National Anthem for the Cincinnati Reds game in front of forty thousand people. He sang “O Holy Night” for the Christmas Eve Service at the Owenton First Christian Church for many years. His singing touched countless lives and his voice was loved by many. He always praised God for the gift of his voice and being able to share it.>Forest was an avid golfer and introduced the game he loved to his 3 children where they grew up playing at Fairway Golf Course and Perry Park Resort. He also loved night fishing for crappie on Lake June, in FL. and loved sharing his fresh catch of filets with neighbors and friends.

Forest is survived by special friend Alda “Jinx” Marksberry, of Williamstown, KY, his sister Gloria Gaynor of Woodbury, MN, his children, Mark (Kay) of Frankfort, KY, Lea Anne (Hart) Brown of Mt. Pleasant, SC and Matthew (Colleen) of Owenton, KY. He has 4 grandchildren, Daniel, Rachel, Joshua, and Vince, 3 great grandchildren, Jackson, Dawson and Karlee.

He was preceded in death by 3 brothers, Irving Toftness, Luther Toftness, and Gordon Toftness, 6 sisters, Eva Bjork, Aagot Titus, Vivian Fenander, Harriet Barrett, June Peterson and Doris Stockman.

McDonald & New Funeral Homes are in charge of arrangements.  Family will receive friends at the First Christian Church, 113 Main St., Owenton, KY. on Thursday, January 23, 2020 from 5-8pm. The funeral will be Friday, January 24 at 11am. Burial will follow the funeral at the Owenton 100F Cemetery. Should friends desire, memorial contributions may be sent to:

Kentuckiana Children’s Center, 1810 Brownsboro Road, Louisville, KY 40206 ; First Christian Church, P.O. Box 463, Owenton, KY 40359 or Good Shepard Hospice, 1110 Hammock Rd., Sebring, FL 33870

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