Mr. Gerhard John Hilbert Forsen

Gerhard John Hilbert Forsen went home to His Lord and Saviour on October 13, 2025 at the age of 91.
Born in Camrose, Alberta on September 11, 1934, Gerhard was the oldest of three sons born to Hilbert and Christina Forsen. As a young man, he helped out on the family farm, and went on to explore a number of interesting occupations, from dry cleaning delivery, to road construction, to sign painting, and became an American Motors mechanic working at Rose City Motors in Camrose, Alberta. He married Marit Reiten in June of 1959, and they began a family. Unfortunately, their firstborn son Dale died as an infant, but daughter Carolyn was born in 1962.
Gerhard followed his two younger brothers into a career with Alberta Provincial Parks in 1968. For the next 26 years, the family moved seven different times and lived in six different provincial parks. Gerhard loved his work, and spent many hours in the summers meeting campers and day-use visitors from literally all over the world. His favourite park was Dinosaur Provincial Park, and he was instrumental in starting the naturalist program there.
Affectionately known by colleagues as the Silver Fox, Gerhard had many interests and skills, ranging from photography and developing of photos, to stock car racing, cross country skiing, wrought iron work, woodworking, picture framing, target shooting, and more. He was a jack-of-all-trades that could repair nearly anything. He had a huge love of music, singing in barbershop quartets as a young man, and playing guitar until his fingers bled. And animals were always a delight to him, whether the wildlife that lived in the parks, or pets, especially cats.
Gerhard loved to laugh, and brought an infectious joy to any setting. He encouraged and mentored many young people that worked for him in the parks, some of whom also made a career of working for the parks department.
He was predeceased by his parents, Hilbert and Christina Forsen, infant son Dale, younger brother Art Forsen and brother-in-law Art Reiten. He is survived by his wife of sixty-six years, Marit, daughter Carolyn (Les) Virovec, brother Ken (Jean) Forsen, and several nephews and nieces. He will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Diabetes Canada or BAPS (Brooks Animal Protection Society).

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