The late Doug Tamasi.

Douglas W Tamasi, founder of Continental Lift Truck, in Jordan, Minneapolis, died on April 28 in Rancho Mirage, California.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Kay, who is president of Continental Lift Truck, his son, Michael, who is vice president, and a brother, Tom.

Tamasi joined the forklift business in 1969. He was a dealer for Allis Chambers, Douglas Machinery, in Des Moines, Iowa, before founding Continental Lift Truck in 1984.

Today, Continental Lift Truck is one of the largest used forklift wholesalers in the US.

Tamasi fought a battle with renal failure and his family described him as "always cheerful and happy to be on the right side of the grass".

He was unable to receive a kidney transplant and organ donation was a cause close to his heart.

The Tamasi family suggests donations be made to:

The Transplant Centre,
Roberta Simmons Fund,
516 Delaware Street SE,
Box 482, Room 2-200,
Minneapolis, MN, 55455