Ivan Samuel Forsythe

Ivan passed quickly, and peacefully, at Mercy Anderson hospital on May 28th. Those he loved dearly were with him, Jean his wife of 68 years, his beloved daughters Lisa and Shannon and his son-in-law Randy. Ivan and Jean met and married in Northern Ireland! After a small and simple ceremony, in Banbridge Unitarian Church, and tea at Granny's, they travelled to Shannon airport, where they met up with life-long friends Walter and Laura, and arrived in Ottawa, Canada. Ivan quickly found employment and finished his Professional Engineering Certification at Carleton University. Jean, having graduated from Lisburn Technical College of Business in Northern Ireland, quickly found employment in the National Research Council.

They returned to Northern Ireland in 1964, and were blessed with Lisa's arrival. Ford Motor Company had just opened a new manufacturing plant in the outskirts of Belfast, where Ivan was employed as one of the Start-Up Engineers, it was there that he was offered an opportunity to transfer to Plymouth, Michigan, where Ford was getting ready to open a new plant. After that plant was up and running, Ivan transferred to Batavia, where Ford was, once again, opening a new plant. It was in Plymouth where they were blessed with the arrival of their second daughter Shannon. Also, where the family became US Citizens! One of Ivan's prized possessions was his Certification of Citizenship Document signed by President Ronald Reagan.

Ivan was an enthusiastic cyclist and competed in many events, well into his 80s one being a ride in Northern Michigan to honor his long-ago mentor Eddie Sands, from Banbridge, N.I. All who knew Ivan enjoyed his banter, his easy laugh, and his enduring love of his family.

Messages or memories for Ivan’s family can be shared on his memorial page at Spring Grove Cemetery. Donations for QCW can be made in Ivan’s name on our membership page or mailed to: Queen City Wheels, Inc., c/o Jutze Kopfler & Associates, Attn: Anna Baecker, 9987 Carver Road Suite 135, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45242.