Forest Joseph Dostaler Obituary (1936 - 2024)

Forest Joseph Dostaler, a much loved and admired husband, father and grandfather, passed away on November 24, 2024, at home in his own bed. Carolyn, his devoted wife of 62 years, was by his side. He was 88 years old. He was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on October 19, 1936, to Mildred [Rock] and Avit Dostaler, who owned and tirelessly worked at Dostalers Market [formerly Lowell Cash Market]. When his parents passed away in the early 1960s he and his brother, Bob, inherited and were the third generation to operate and work many long days at the butcher shop and grocery store, until it was sold in 1974. Forest attended Saint Margarets School and Lowell High School. He enlisted in the Navy at 17 years old and served on an aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany throughout Asia as well as being stationed in Norfolk, Virginia. He was a proud Korean War Veteran. After 4 years in the Navy, he came back to Massachusetts and attended and graduated from UMass Lowell, then Lowell Teachers College. He taught all but one year at the now closed, Malloy Elementary School in Lowell. It was a small, close-knit neighborhood school. He retired from teaching after 40 years. He enjoyed his colleagues and students. He was an entertaining, caring and conscientious teacher. So often when he was out and about in Lowell, one of his former students would recognize him and went out of their way to tell him what a great teacher he was, which of course he was. He married Carolyn [Gacek] in 1962 after a courtship that Forest claimed his future mother-in-law thought went on too long. He adored his wife and said it was love-at-first-sight even though he was on a double-date with another woman. He and Cal had a loving marriage and partnership, which lasted over six decades and remained strong to the very end of his life. They told each other daily how much they loved each other and sealed it with a kiss. He loved and adored his two daughters, Karen Dostaler of Saco, Maine and Jennifer Hageman of New Hope, Pennsylvania, his sons-in-law, Michael Leighton and Christoper Hageman, and grandchildren, Grace and Sydney Hageman, and Aiden Leighton. Forest and Carolyn had many dear friends and close family. They traveled to the islands and Europe with Caroline, Carolyns twin sister, and Ski Szczypinski, as well as close friends, Martha and Jerry Lussier. He so enjoyed spending many festive holidays and year-round fun with his sister-in-law Elizabeth [Betty] and brother-in-law Jim Linder. When Forest retired from teaching over 25 years ago, he was busier than ever. He tended to their home and yard. He was a wonderful cook who shopped and prepared delicious fresh meals daily for his family. In the past few years when that became difficult for him, he had specific instructions on where to find the right recipe or how to make a certain dish. He had a famous meatloaf and other recipes that are remembered by friends and family alike. He loved a good CC Manhattan with one cherry, which ultimately led him on a search for a CC Manhattan from Amsterdam to Paris and back, only to be served an exorbitantly-priced cocktail on the Champs Ellyse. Forest was an engaging, funny and animated storyteller. He had a lot of them, from childhood stories of Eddie Flanagan, to his time on the Oriskany and in Japan while in the Navy, his years of teaching, and selling real estate and the classic stories of how he met and won-over his wife and her family. He also sold real estate for 10 years and his personality was perfect for the job. He was a smart, enthusiastic and honest salesperson, who referred to himself as Forest, like the trees. He started selling real estate to supplement his teachers salary to make sure his daughters could continue to attend elementary and high school at Notre Dame Academy and then college. He was proud his girls graduated without any student debt. He loved to remind them of how much tuition he paid over the years, but he made sure they knew he was all too happy to do it. He was a proud and perfect husband, father, father-in-law and grandfather. He loved and bragged about his grandchildren as he did about his daughters and sons-in-law. Everyone he talked to knew all about them and what they were doing. It was very clear how much he loved them all. Forest gave great advice, was positive and strong. He was a devoted family man. He will be dearly missed every day. He is survived by his wife, daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren and many other relatives and good friends. He is predeceased by his parents and brother, Robert Dostaler, and his best friend, Gerald Lussier. Visiting hours will be held on Friday, November 29, 2024, from 3 pm 6 pm at the DRACUT FUNERAL HOME, 2159 Lakeview Ave., DRACUT. His Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated on Saturday, at 10 am at St. Francis of Assisi Parish, 115 Wheeler Rd., DRACUT. Interment with military honors to follow in St. Josephs Cemetery, CHELMSFORD. Service Details Visitation When November 29, 2024 3:00pm - 6:00pm Location Dracut Funeral Home Address 2159 Lakeview Avenue Dracut, MA 01826 Mass of Christian Burial When November 30, 2024 10:00am Location St. Francis Church (Dracut) Address 115 Wheeler Road Dracut, MA 01826 Interment When November 30, 2024 11:30am Location St. Joseph Cemetery Address 96 Riverneck Road Chelmsford, MA 01824