Forrest Woody Hatfield

Forrest Woody Hatfield, 94, passed away Monday, June 16, 2018 at Iowa Methodist Hospital in Des Moines, Iowa. The son of Otto and Grace (Woody) Hatfield, Forrest was born on June 17, 1924, at Newton, Iowa. He graduated from Newton High School in 1942.
On June 23, 1945, Forrest was united in marriage to Hazel Marie Wormley also of Newton. They established their home at rural Newton and began a dairy farming operation. Forrest devoted his life to his family and dairying. He operated his own dairy consisting of registered Jersey cattle near Newton for most of 35 years. From 1964 to 1967 he managed a large dairy at Newnan, Georgia. In 1980 he moved the family dairy operation to Leon, Iowa, where he lived for the remainder of his life.
Forrest was a member of the Metz Community Church, a Farm Bureau member and a 4-H Club leader. He served on a total of eleven boards, from local school and church boards to dairy industry boards and the USDA Farm Credit Board. He was selected Iowa Distinguished Dairyman in 1980 and was Premier Jersey Breeder at the Iowa State Fair for 18 consecutive years from 1982 to 2000. He was awarded a 4-H Clover Award and Honorary FFA Chapter Farmer Award for his work with youth in dairy projects and dairy judging teams.
Forrest was proud of his reputation for being honest and fair. He enjoyed family gatherings, playing cards and watching sports events.
Forrest was preceded in death by his parents; his wife of 55 years, Hazel, on April 26, 2000; two sons and a grandson in infancy; and his sister and brother-in-law, Agnes and Carl Bunse.
Those left to honor Forrest’s memory include his son and daughter-in-law, Jerry and Terri Hatfield of Leon; his daughters and sons-in-law, Judy Hatfield, Jane Hatfield, Janice and Mike Covington all of Leon, and Joan and Rick Birkenholtz of Kanawha, Iowa; Cindy Stiles of Leon, who he considered an adopted daughter; grandchildren: Kevin (Darci) Hatfield, Kyle (Jackie) Hatfield, Kirk (Bridget) Hatfield, Kendall Hatfield, Tim ( Stephanie) Covington, Hannah (Quincy) Main, Titus (Kaylee) Covington and Victoria (Adam) Schmidt; six great grandchildren; his niece and nephews and many friends.
A memorial service will be held at a later date at Trinity Christian Church, west of Decatur, Iowa, with a brief graveside and internment at Palo Alto Church Cemetery in Newton, Iowa.
Armstrong Funeral Home in Mount Ayr is assisting the family. Online condolences may be left at www.armstrongfh.com.