Kent Mason Forney

Kent Forney left on his last fishing trip on January 21, 2026. There will be no funeral services.

He attended the University of Iowa where his education was interrupted by his service in the Army. Upon discharge, he returned to complete his education at the Law School where he received a JD with distinction in 1958.

He began the practice with Bradshaw, Fowler, Proctor and Fairgrave in Des Moines where he remained until retirement in 2023. He was a trial lawyer who tried cases in federal and State Courts, including rural County Seats, which he claimed made him a connoisseur of the cuisine at numerous Corner Cafes and an expert on the accommodations at the various Roadside Motels.

He was elected a Fellow of the American College of Trial Lawyers, the President of the Iowa Academy of Trial Lawyers and a founding member of IBOTA. He also served as a member of the Judicial Nominating Commission as well as the State Bar Board of Governors.

He was appointed by the Iowa Supreme Court as one of 3 lawyer members of a 15-member Commission that drafted the plan to create the Intermediate Court of Appeals.

Outside the practice, he served as an Adjunct Professor of Law at the Drake University Law School, teaching insurance law. He was elected as a Director of several Insurance Companies, as well as being selected as a Member of the Iowa Insurance Hall of Fame.

He also was a member of the Board of Trustees of Palmer College for over 30 years. The last 10 years, he served as Vice Chairman of the Board. He was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Chiropractic in recognition of his service to the College.

He was an ardent fisherman going to Canada and Alaska, for over 60 years. He and his Wife, Janice were married over 65 years. Kent is survived by his son, Gregory, a Trial Lawyer in Kansas City and a daughter, Kristin whose husband is also a Lawyer.

He said he only practiced law to make enough money to pay for fishing trips. His family will remain rich in the countless memories created over 60+ years. As James Earl Jones stated in the movie, “A Field of Dreams,” the family memories, “are so thick, they will have to brush them away from their faces.”

Ernst Funeral Home & Cremation Services of Waukee has been entrusted with Kent's final arrangements.