West Lafayette, Indiana - Dr. John Charles Forrest, 85, of West Lafayette, Indiana, died February 23, 2022 at St. Elizabeth Healthcare in Delphi, IN. He was born July 30, 1936, in Larned, Kansas and was the older of two sons to his parents, Orman and Erma Kline Forrest.  He spent his childhood in Larned, attending a one-room schoolhouse through 8th grade, helping on the family farm, and participating in 4-H.  He married his first wife, Katherine Whiteside, mother of David and Tim, in 1964. He married Beverley Richardson Landis in West Lafayette, on August 21, 2004. Following his 1954 graduation from Larned High School, John earned a BS in Animal Science in 1960 and a MS in Meat Science in 1962, both from Kansas State University, and a PhD in Muscle Chemistry & Physiology in 1966 at the University of Wisconsin.  He was a Professor of Animal Science at Purdue University from 1967 until his retirement in 2005 as Professor Emeritus.  He truly loved teaching and mentored thousands of undergrads and many graduate students during his tenure. He co-authored the textbook Principles of Meat Science and served Indiana meat producers through the Purdue agricultural extension program. He pioneered research in new methods to measure and ensure meat quality and safety. He wrote many research papers and traveled extensively as a consultant and lecturer. He enjoyed meeting with producers and scientists in developing countries to help them adopt modern meat processing techniques. He led groups of Purdue students on international programs and hosted many foreign exchange students, forging lifelong friendships. John received many awards over his career including the 1983 Distinguished Extension-Industry Service Award from the American Meat Science Assoc.,  the 1992 USDA Distinguished Service Award for Scientific Research, the 1994 Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to rural people of IN, and the 2020 R.C. Pollock Award from the American Meat Science Assoc. He was a member of the American Meat Science Assoc., American Society of Animal Science, and the Council for Agriculture Science & Technology. John was a founding member of the Wabash Township Volunteer Fire Department, serving from 1975 to 1996. He was active in the congregation of Covenant Church, serving as an usher for many years. John is preceded in death by his parents. He will be dearly missed by his family. Surviving are wife Beverley Forrest of Zionsville; sons David (Rebecca) Forrest of Houston, TX and Tim (Jennifer) Forrest of Carmel; grandsons Greg, Ryan, Joe, Alex, and Jake Forrest; brother Jim (Joan) Forrest of Larned, KS; niece Kimberly Forrest; and nephew Kevin (Holli) Forrest, both of Houston, TX. A graveside service will be held at the Larned Cemetery, in Kansas on Thursday, March 3 at 2:00 PM with Pastor Tricia North presiding.  Visitation will be 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 2nd at Beckwith Mortuary, Larned. Memorial contributions may be made to the Pawnee County 4-H Foundation, in care of Beckwith Mortuary, P.O. Box 477, Larned, KS 67550 or the Covenant Church, 211 Knox Dr., West Lafayette, IN 47906. A memorial service in West Lafayette, will be scheduled at a future date to be announced. Personal condolences may be left at www.beckwithmortuary.com.