Carl and Lillian Forslund were married on March 29, 1947. They lived with his grandparents and cared for them until they passed in 1956. They sold the farm and built their home on Jackson road in the fall of 1956 were Lillian still lives. They both brought to the marriage a love of community, a strong work ethic and leadership qualities that would help them in life and business. As a first class Seaman out of boot camp Lillian was a Yeoman stationed in Washington DC who worked in the CB department. She made sure that the CB’s has everything they had all of the equipment they needed to do their jobs. When she retired she was a 3rd class Petty Officer. Here she learned hard work, drive and determination. Carl brought up on hard work, long hours working on his grandparents farm knew what it took to succeed.

In January 1950 Carl and Lillian opened a saw mill in the lot next to their Jackson street home. They sold mainly to the mines. Carl also was a logger who logged in the winter months. Lillian would load the trucks and take care of the bookkeeping for the saw mill. In 1957 thru 1961 when the mines started to close Carl and Lillian decided it was time to close the saw mill and in April of 1962 built and opened Forslund Lumber company on the corner of Jackson and Lake streets in Ironwood Michigan. They started with one building an warehouse which housed paneling and wood products. Now 45 years later Forslunds is still serving the Ironwood, and surroundings communities with quality service and products.

As the company grew Carl and Lillian divided the responsibilities in half. Carl did the estimating and outside work while Lillian doing the bookkeeping, HR role and the store’s daily operations. Carl and Lillian had three children, two boys and a girl. Paul, the oldest found himself learning the family business early on when his father’s health started to decline. With his declining health early on in his marriage Carl never complained. His passion and love for his family and buiness kept him going. Even with four other Lumber yards in the area Forlsund’s grew providing security for Carl and Lillian’s family as well as jobs for local residents. Even with all of the responsibilities of a growing family and business Carl and Lillian found time to give back to the Community of Ironwood. Carl was on the Board of Directors of the 1st National Bank, Long time member of Rotary Club, and a active member of the Trinity Lutheran Church. Carl also was a member and later on the Board of Directors for the Lumberman’s Association in 1965 for two years. Lillian was a founding member of the Grand View Hospital Auxiliary; she organized the gift shop, and with other members of the Auxiliary has raised 87,000 for hospital rooms and various other projects. She is also a member of her church choir and Ironwood’s Women’s Club sextet.

In June of 2006 Carl Forslund passed away leaving a family and community to grieve for a kind, gentle man. But his legacy lives on with his son Paul Forslund who has run the store for several years. Gus, Paul’s son, is learning the business from him. The family affair continues.

Today Forslund Building Supply Inc. employees more than 70 people from the Upper Peninsula and northern Wisconsin.