Forrest L. Saum, 80 , of Elm Creek died Dec. 16, 2001, at his home in Elm Creek.

He was born Dec. 8, 1921, in Maywood to Harry C. and Opal T. Coykendall Saum. He grew up in the Maywood and Farnam areas, graduating from Farnam High School in 1941. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the U.S. Navy from 1941-1945. He participated in the Battle of Coral Sea and served landings in Africa and Sicily. After the war he worked in Wyoming then came to Kearney and attended Kearney State College. He later worked as a police officer for the City of Kearney, then worked at Turner Body Shop until retiring. He moved to Elm Creek in the early 1980s, where he had lived since.

Mr. Saum was a member of the Kearney Elks Lodge 984, Kearney Eagles Lodge 2722 and Kearney Veterans of Foreign War Post 759. He enjoyed the outdoors and especially hunting and fishing. Survivors include two brothers, Hal of Kearney and Burnell of Hamilton, Mont.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two sisters and a brother. Memorials are suggested to the Kearney Police Department in care of the Kearney Community Foundation.

Services will be at 10 a.m. Wednesday at the Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary with the Rev. C.J. Willis officiating. Burial will be in Fort McPherson National Cemetery near Maxwell with graveside military rites provided by the North Platte Veterans Group.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8:30 p.m. today and prior to services Wednesday at Horner-Lieske-Horner Mortuary in Kearney.

The North Platte Telegraph, December 18, 2001