MONROE - Long-time Swiss Colony executive Forrest L. Kubly, 95, Monroe, died Saturday at Monroe Clinic Hospital. Forrest Kubly was the younger brother of Ray Kubly, founder of the Swiss Colony, and one of the company's leaders from its beginning through the present.
Forrest Kubly is remembered as leaving an indelible mark on The Swiss Colony and as a supporter of University of Wisconsin athletics.
"Forrest was an absolutely wonderful man," said Colony Brands, Inc. President and CEO John Baumann in a statement. "He was kind, thoughtful and generous, and had the warmest smile."
By his own definition, Kubly was a go-getter, like his brother Ray Kubly.
The brothers, sons of Henry and Sophia Kubly, worked to build The Swiss Colony, which began in the basement of Ray Kubly's home as a mail-order cheese business. Acquisition and expansions have grown the company to what is now known as Colony Brands.
Fourteen years younger than Ray Kubly, Forrest Kubly started helping in the business while still in high school. Since 1933, Forrest Kubly missed only one Christmas season at the Colony, according to Colony materials.
Known as a stickler for quality, Forrest Kubly was put in charge of purchasing cheeses for The Swiss Colony. In 2005, at age 90, the company crowned him the "The Big Cheese" at a company retirement party, a nod to his many years of buying cheeses.
"As an executive at The Swiss Colony, he was a great leader and teacher. He held very high expectations about product quality and the customer experience. I don't know where our food business would be today without him," Baumann said.
A senior vice president, Forrest Kubly officially retired in 1989, but he was still came to work every morning.
"He loved the Colony and came in to work every day, including last week, and he spent more years here by far than anyone else. I, along with many other folks here at the Colony, will miss chatting with him every day," said Pat Kubly, Ray Kubly's son, in an e-mail message to employees. He added how much he will miss his uncle, nicknamed "Timber."
"He really enjoyed the company of his co-workers and was a tremendous role model," Baumann said. "Everyone in our Monroe office looked forward to seeing him stroll into work each day. We're really going to miss him."
Forrest Kubly graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1940 and remained an ardent supporter of Badger athletics. He and his wife Mildred (Mimi) established their own UW athletic scholarship and attended home and away football games for more than 50 years. Although he was unconscious at Monroe Clinic during the Badgers' historic game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday and died with just 1:17 left on the game clock, Pat Kubly said he likes to think his uncle knew the Badgers won.
"We all like to think maybe he was somehow aware of this great victory," he said. "I think he may have attended more UW home games than almost anyone alive."
Mildred Kubly died March 30, 2010 at the age of 91. Ray Kubly died in 1968.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at St. John's United Church of Christ, Monroe. Family and friends will gather at the Monroe Country Club following the memorial service.
Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is handling arrangements.
Forrest Kubly is remembered as leaving an indelible mark on The Swiss Colony and as a supporter of University of Wisconsin athletics.
"Forrest was an absolutely wonderful man," said Colony Brands, Inc. President and CEO John Baumann in a statement. "He was kind, thoughtful and generous, and had the warmest smile."
By his own definition, Kubly was a go-getter, like his brother Ray Kubly.
The brothers, sons of Henry and Sophia Kubly, worked to build The Swiss Colony, which began in the basement of Ray Kubly's home as a mail-order cheese business. Acquisition and expansions have grown the company to what is now known as Colony Brands.
Fourteen years younger than Ray Kubly, Forrest Kubly started helping in the business while still in high school. Since 1933, Forrest Kubly missed only one Christmas season at the Colony, according to Colony materials.
Known as a stickler for quality, Forrest Kubly was put in charge of purchasing cheeses for The Swiss Colony. In 2005, at age 90, the company crowned him the "The Big Cheese" at a company retirement party, a nod to his many years of buying cheeses.
"As an executive at The Swiss Colony, he was a great leader and teacher. He held very high expectations about product quality and the customer experience. I don't know where our food business would be today without him," Baumann said.
A senior vice president, Forrest Kubly officially retired in 1989, but he was still came to work every morning.
"He loved the Colony and came in to work every day, including last week, and he spent more years here by far than anyone else. I, along with many other folks here at the Colony, will miss chatting with him every day," said Pat Kubly, Ray Kubly's son, in an e-mail message to employees. He added how much he will miss his uncle, nicknamed "Timber."
"He really enjoyed the company of his co-workers and was a tremendous role model," Baumann said. "Everyone in our Monroe office looked forward to seeing him stroll into work each day. We're really going to miss him."
Forrest Kubly graduated from University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1940 and remained an ardent supporter of Badger athletics. He and his wife Mildred (Mimi) established their own UW athletic scholarship and attended home and away football games for more than 50 years. Although he was unconscious at Monroe Clinic during the Badgers' historic game against the Nebraska Cornhuskers Saturday and died with just 1:17 left on the game clock, Pat Kubly said he likes to think his uncle knew the Badgers won.
"We all like to think maybe he was somehow aware of this great victory," he said. "I think he may have attended more UW home games than almost anyone alive."
Mildred Kubly died March 30, 2010 at the age of 91. Ray Kubly died in 1968.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6 at St. John's United Church of Christ, Monroe. Family and friends will gather at the Monroe Country Club following the memorial service.
Shriner-Hager-Gohlke Funeral Home is handling arrangements.