Arthur "Art" Forte

Arthur Forte, age 80 of Glenwood, died Friday, January 31, 2025 at Essentia Health in Fargo, North Dakota. A memorial service celebrating Art's life will be held, Saturday, February 15th at 2:00 p.m. at the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Arrangements are with the Hoplin-Hitchcock Funeral Home in Glenwood. 

Arthur Leo Forte was born on April 9, 1944 in Eveleth, Minnesota, to Albert and Jennie (Bradish) Forte.  He grew up in Eveleth, the eldest of two sons, and graduated from Eveleth High School in 1962.  

Art played one year of college football on scholarship at the University of Iowa before returning to Minnesota where he enrolled at UMD and graduated with a teaching degree. He later earned a civil engineering degree from the University of Minnesota and while living in Minneapolis he met and married Karen Peterson in 1981. They made their home in Glenwood where he was employed as a high school science teacher and a civil engineer. He retired from teaching at Minnewaska High School in 2009.  

Art had a great love for Northern Minnesota. Most of his free time was spent with his family at the cabin (nicknamed “The Wooden Tent”) on Lake Vermilion where he enjoyed sailing, fishing, and lumberjacking. Up before the sun, with a cup of coffee in hand, he loved to watch the sunrise across Big Bay from a bench at the end of the dock.

Art, or “Pa 40” as he was sometimes known, was intelligent and analytical, generous and mysterious.  His past times included cooking, reading, catamaran sailing, music, poetry, carpentry, gardening, and arguing about politics.

Art passed away unexpectedly at Essentia Hospital in Fargo, ND, on January 31, 2025 from a recurrence of cancer that had been treated 11 years prior. 

Art is survived by his wife beloved wife of 43 years, Karen; one son, Brian, a daughter, Jennifer (Justin) Waldron; one brother, Mark (Judy) Forte; and nieces, Kristen and Jill.

He was preceded in death by his parents. 

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