As received from the Memorial Chapel Funeral and Cremation Service. If you have questions about, or potential corrections to the content, please contact the funeral home directly.
William Edward (Bill) Forsman, age 90, a resident of Hancock, passed away Saturday, May 9, 2026, at UP Health Systems – Portage in Hancock, where he had been a patient for the past four days.
Bill was born on August 24, 1935, on the family farm in Franklin Township to Hugo and Helmi (Koski) Forsman. He was a graduate of Hancock High School.
Bill developed his strong work ethic at an early age, helping with the family dairy farm and selling grade A milk to the Copper Country Dairy Association, of which he would later become a board member. He also drove truck for the local fishery in Hancock. Bill took special care of his parents his whole life, especially in their final years. He was active in the National Guard as a mechanic and sharpshooter at Camp Grayling. While continuing to manage the family farm, Bill began a career working for the Hancock Public Schools, retiring after thirty-five years as the Transportation Director, Lead Bus Mechanic and “favorite bus driver” for many, with over a quarter of a million miles driven! He was active in the community, serving on the Franklin Township board for over thirty years as a trustee and later as Township Supervisor.
On April 6, 1967, Bill was united in Holy Matrimony to the former Kathleen H. Niemi, a marriage that lasted nearly fifty years. The couple resided in Franklin Township as they raised their family of six. On May 11, 2014, Kathy preceded Bill in death. Bill lovingly took care of his wife for the final ten years of her life.
Bill enjoyed being a farmer his entire life raising hay, oats, raspberries, potatoes, and other vegetables. He loved hunting deer and fishing. Bill was proud of his Finnish heritage, speaking in the Finnish language anytime he could and even made two trips to Finland to visit relatives. Bill loved his family. He enjoyed visiting his son in New Hampshire, his daughter in Canada, and also visited family in Florida for thirty-five consecutive years. Bill also enjoyed being his wife’s “music manager”, carrying her guitar to each of her country western and Christian benefits. One of his favorite activities in retirement was attending his local coffee group, which frequented the local restaurants.
Bill had a strong faith in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, dedicated to attending the services of God’s Word. He was an active member of the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church, serving on the church board for many years.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Kathy, his parents, Hugo Henry (Henrik) Forsman, from Oulu, Finland and Helmi Maria Koski (Koskenniska) Forsman from Kiitala, Finland, his infant brother Reino, brothers Norman, Peter and Henry and sisters Sylvia Jarvi and Jean Makkonen.
Bill is survived by four sons: Robert (Lori) Nettell of Jaffrey, NH; children Joshua (Christian) Nettell, Destri (Will) Nettell, Ainsley (Brandon) Nettell, Paul (Britney) Laprise and Joshua (Alora) Laprise: Lindsay (Darcy) Nettell of Atlantic Mine; children Londyn (Kendra) Nettell and Browyn (Dylan) Hanke: Duane (Janet) Nettell of Hancock; children Jennifer (Ray Baker), Erik (Drew Bastman), Bobbi Jo (Michael Hermann) Bonini, Megan Nettell, Taylor Nettell and Alex (Rose) Nettell. John (Valerie) Forsman of Calumet; children Cody (Alyssa) Abe and Jersey Abe. Two daughters: Sabrina (Michael) McCarroll of New Brunswick, Canada; son William McCarroll: Joy (Ernest) Bylkas III of Hancock; children Lydia Bylkas and David Bylkas. Twenty-six great grandchildren: Elizabeth, Lauren, Brennan, Tessa, Todd, Ayla, Sophia, MacKenzie, Ridge, Beckett, Raya, Brooks, Jett, Carter, Madeline, Emilie, Jax, Mason, Brycyn, Paige, Bennett, Solomon, Delia, Boston, Roman and Duke: Three great, great grandchildren; Zayden, Jayla and Kaia. Brothers-in-law Earl Harden of FL and Stanley Niemi of Ontonagon. Sisters-in-law Barbara Forsman of Hancock and Mary Tormala of Calumet: numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
The funeral service for Bill will be held 12:00 noon Friday, May 15, 2026, at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church in South Range with Pastor Ernest Bylkas III to officiate. The service will be live-streamed on YouTube on the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church channel. Burial will be in the Lakeside Cemetery of Hancock, where military honors will be conducted by the Copper Country Veterans Association.
Friends may call on Friday May 15, 2026, from 10:00 am until time of service at the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church of South Range.
To view William’s obituary or to send condolences to the family please visit www.memorialchapel.net (http://www.memorialchapel.net/).
The Memorial Chapel Funeral & Cremation Service – Hancock Chapel is assisting the family with the arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be given to the Range Apostolic Lutheran Church or the Inter-Lutheran Theological Seminary in Hancock.
Thank you to Aspirus Hospital, UP Health Systems – Portage, and especially both the Veteran’s Administration and the Canal View facility, whose staff took such good care of him for nearly three years.
“Jesus said unto her, ‘I am the Resurrection and the Life: he that believeth in Me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: and whosoever liveth and believeth in Me shall never die…’” John 11:25-26
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