The Vienna community lost a long-time community supporter and businessman last week when Forrest Honse passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2020.

According to a family history, written by Forrest’s wife of many years, Vivian Ramsey Honse, and published in Volume II of the Maries County, Missouri County/Family History, Forrest was born on a brisk, sunny day in September 1942, a son of Clyde and Mabel Frey Honse. Before he was born, his mother told his father she believed they were going to have another boy. Forrest was born around midnight on Sept. 14, 1942.

Forrest and his brothers, Harold, Donald, Lowell, Robert, Edwin, Charles and Allen were joined two years later by a sister, Joyce. The family lived in a two-room log cabin on the John Wesley Honse farm by the Gasconade River. The family lived in that area several years. In the 1950s they moved to the Pete Frey farm.

In 1950, Clyde built a new building at the south edge of Vienna where he began a business known as Honse Implement Company. When Clyde retired in 1970, Forrest purchased the business from his father. The dealership has seen a lot of changes in the past 50 years, including a fire that destroyed the building Clyde has built. Forrest, Vivian and their staff rebuilt and the business remains a viable and popular part of the Vienna community.

Forrest married Vivian Ramsey on June 19, 1965 and they have two daughters, Kerri and Heather. The family was and remains active members of the First Baptist Church in Vienna.

Forrest and Vivian and their crew at Honse Implement kept tractors and farm implements running for grateful customers over the years. Forrest will be missed by many in the Vienna area and by people in the surrounding communities.