Lowell Forbes Obituary

Lowell Wendel Forbes

Lowell Wendel Forbes, 93, of Tiffin, formerly of Lima and Columbus Grove, died at 11:59 a.m. Thursday, January 22, 2026, at The Willows at Tiffin.

He was born April 2, 1932, in Columbus Grove, the only child of Lyman "Bert" and Audrey Lucille (Deffenbaugh) Forbes.

He married Nancy J. Harter July 5, 1958, at Grace Methodist Church, Lima. They met when Lowell's cousin set him up on a blind date with Nancy. She survives in Tiffin.

Other survivors include his daughter, Andrea (Richard) Traunero of Tiffin; a grandson, Robert L. (Shelby) Traunero of Plain City, Ohio, and a granddaughter, Cassandra (Thomas) Miller of Tiffin with a great-granddaughter on the way; a sister-in-law, Ruth E. Kramer of Seal Beach, California; a nephew, Samuel M. (Sue) Kramer of Long Beach, California, and a niece, Leah (Brian) Wilson of Frisco, Texas; great nieces and nephews, and cousins in the Lima area.

Lowell was a 1952 Columbus Grove High School graduate. He earned his Eagle Scout award in 1948. He served in the United States Army stationed in Puerto Rico. He attended Ohio Northern University, Ada, in accounting. He had worked as a lifeguard/ manager for the Columbus "Grove" City Pool, managed the Grove movie theater, and then as a teller for the Grove Union Bank. His main career was spent at Shawnee Local Schools and the Elida School District as the Clerk-Treasurer, from which he retired in 1986. After moving to Tiffin, he worked at Traunero Funeral Home and Crematory as a funeral assistant. Besides his career, Lowell began performing magic in high school, later with Nancy became the magic duo of Najef and Nancy, and then as Floral Fantasies as a professional Magician entertaining all over Ohio, Canada to California, and abroad, and winning Ohio's top award for Magician of the Year in 1972. He was awarded the Order of Merlin for 63 years of magic and served as the International Brotherhood of Magicians' treasurer. He also was very interested in Native American culture as a storyteller. Lowell was a 63-year member of the 32nd Degree of Masons, in Grove, Lima and Tiffin and the Order of Scottish Rite, Tiffin Kiwanis, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin. He was also a 7th great-grandson through the Forbes line of Abigail (Dane) Faulkner, who was accused in the Salem Witch Trials. He enjoyed camping, boating, travelling, and spending time with his family, cousins, and grandchildren.

Family and Friends may visit 4-7 p.m. Tuesday, January 27, 2026, at TRAUNERO FUNERAL HOME AND CREMATORY, 214 S. Monroe St., Tiffin, Ohio 44883, (419) 447-3113.

The funeral service will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at the funeral home officiated by the Rev. Karsten Snitker. Burial will take place immediately following at Greenlawn Cemetery, Tiffin.

Memorial contribu-tions may be made to Trinity United Church of Christ, Tiffin.

For directions, send condolences to the family, order out-of-town flowers, or to view the tribute video, go to www.traunerofuneralhome.com.