Paul Bernard Forch, age 90, of Lincoln, Nebraska, passed away peacefully surrounded by family, December 13, 2024. He is survived by his wife Anne Walker Forch and his children Julie (Eric ) Phillips of Omaha, Paul (Jan) Forch of Phoenix, and Steve Forch of Lincoln and their families including grandchildren: David, Jacob, Lilly, Eva, Zach, Callie, and Ryleigh; and 4 great-grandchildren, many nieces, nephews and friends.

Paul was born in Stratton, Nebraska, on May 2, 1934. His parents were farmers and later owned a tavern in town. His father came to the midwest from New York on the Orphan Train as a small boy. Paul was an Allstate starter and the tallest on the Stratton high school basketball team, which led to the nickname “Boomer,” a name that stuck with him his entire life. Paul went to Kearney State after high school with $65 in his pocket from his dad. Trying to make ends meet, Paul worked many jobs. He cleaned the cafeteria at the TB hospital in the evenings, studied, then loaded trucks at the docks in the early morning hours. After his sophomore year, he joined the Army. Paul returned from Korea on the G.I. Bill and was able to finish college. He married Marcia Masters, and they raised three children.

Paul’s first job was teaching at Kearney Junior High; then he left to be head basketball coach at McCook High School from 1962 to 1967. The Bisons won four West Big Ten championships and were the 1965 class B state runners up. Paul was proud of his rural Nebraska roots and enjoyed the connections with people this allowed him.

In 1967, he was recruited to be the first basketball coach at the new East High School in Lincoln, Nebraska. He taught physiology, anatomy, biology, and chemistry. His love for teaching science led to earning his M.A. from Cal Berkeley and Drake. Forch led the Spartans to state titles in 1971 and in 1978, and they were state runners up on four occasions. His up-tempo and fast-paced coaching style led the Spartans for 28 seasons and reached the class A state tournament 13 times.

Paul’s coaching and teaching career left a legacy of not only remarkable athletic achievements, but also countless lives touched by his unwavering dedication, mentorship and passion for the game and his students. Many players went on to have successful college athletic careers. Paul had an uncanny memory of so many details of each player and season, even those of the competing teams. He could turn a complete stranger into a friend after a few recollections that eventually landed on a common thread and the pleasure was obvious. He was named the Lincoln Journal Star Coach of the Year in 1971, and in 1990, he became one of the first coaches to reach the 400-win milestone. He is an inductee of the East High School Hall of Fame, the Nebraska State Athletic Hall of Fame, the University of Kearney Hall of Fame, and the University of Nebraska at Kearney Hall of Fame. He is also a member of Nebraska High School Sports Hall of Fame. Paul retired from teaching and coaching in 1995.

Paul married Anne in 1988 and they enjoyed 36 happy years together. They loved traveling, golfing, sailing, following sports, their dog Murphy, and spending time with family and friends.

A Celebration of Paul’s Life will be held at 10 am on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at St Mark’s United Methodist Church, 8550 Pioneers Blvd., Lincoln, NE, 68520.

Memorials can be sent to the LEH Paul and Anne Forch Science Scholarship located on the Foundationforlps.org website.