Laverne Forest

Fitchburg - Laverne Bruce Forest, born in 1938 in Montevideo, MN to Esther and Anthony Forest, passed away peacefully at home early Wednesday morning, May 18, 2016. Laverne grew up on a small farm near Granite Falls, MN, where he graduated from high school. He went on to earn a BS from the University of Minnesota in Agricultural Education, and graduate degrees in adult education from Colorado State University and the University of Wisconsin. He served as a county extension agent in Washington and Rock Counties, MN. Professor Forest worked for 24 years as a faculty member in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and the Department of Continuing and Vocational Education. Together with his wife Betty and their family, Laverne realized his dream of returning to farming by starting Eplegaarden in 1985 with the planting of the first 1000 trees on a lovely hillside farm in Fitchburg. Six years and 6000 trees later, the orchard opened to the public in 1991. Eplegaarden has become a beloved destination for thousands of Madison area families.

Laverne married Betty, the best 4-H apple pie baker in Washington County, MN, in 1963 and in 2013 they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

He is preceded in death by his sisters Darlene and Elaine. Laverne is survived by his wife Betty, his children Cary (Katrina), Chris (Kelly) and Heidi (Dave) and his 7 grandchildren (Tess, Gabriel, Sebastian, Lucas, Gretchen, Brock and Sydney) as well as his siblings Donna, Boyd, Kay and Linda.

Laverne was an active leader in the City of Fitchburg, including serving as the first President of the Fitchburg City Council. He was an active member of Bethel Lutheran Church serving as a head usher and church council president. He was also an enthusiastic member of Ygdrasil and Torske Klubben.

Laverne was always on the cutting edge of new ventures; Fitchburg City leadership, Fitchburg and Dane County Farmers' Markets, Fitchburg's Lions Club, the first Seal for Fitchburg, Fitchburg E-way, Eplegaarden, direct marketing of farm produce, dwarf apple trees on a trellis system, and designing and building a Norwegian log home.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Cress Funeral Home, 3610 Speedway Road, Madison, WI, on Sunday, May 22, 2016 from 3-6pm. Celebration will also be held at 10 am on Monday, May 23, 2016 with a Funeral Service at 11 am and lunch to follow at Bethel Lutheran Church, 312 Wisconsin Ave, Madison, WI.

Memorial Contributions may be made to UW Foundation 'Laverne Forest CALS Scholarship Fund' and Bethel Lutheran Church for TV ministry.

Cress Funeral & Cremation Service
3610 Speedway Road, Madison
608-238-3434