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Walter James Foley

FOLEY, JERMAN, BYRNE, DRAPE, POWER, FOLEY-NICPON

Posted By: Sarah Fletcher (email)
Date: 8/19/2016 at 14:52:18

Walter Foley, 83, died peacefully Monday, August 15th at home surrounded by his loving family.

Walter James Foley was born in Chicago, Illinois, on June 29, 1933. He was the last of eight children born to Lawrence and Catherine Foley. Foley did not finish high school, but he earned a graduate equivalency degree while serving in the Korean War. Foley obtained his Bachelor’s Degree from Chicago Teacher’s College, a Masters Degree from the University of Chicago, and a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1964.

Foley started his career as an Assistant Professor at the Chicago State University in 1964. A year later, he was named the Director of the Iowa Educational Information Center at the University of Iowa. Two years later he was promoted to Associate Professor. Three years later he was promoted to the rank of Professor. He served as the Director of Student Development from 1971 through 1973. He returned to the College of Education and taught administrative education until he retired in 2003.

During his career as a professor, Foley took pride in his ability to teach and particularly enjoyed mentoring doctorial students. He served on hundreds of thesis and dissertation committees, seventy-eight as chair. He spent countless hours working with Korean and other international students and twice spoke at the Korean National University. He served as a mediator and arbitrator for the Public Employment Relations Board, and was known for his dispute resolution acumen throughout the state. His students knew him by his favorite phrase: “It all depends.”

Foley is survived by Mary Joan, his wife of sixty years, and by five of his six children: Jeanne Foley and her children, Catie and McKenzie Jerman; Cathy Byrne (Tom); Thomas (Dana Drape) and their children, Ryan, Tyler and Ethan; Michael (Mari Power) and their children, Molly and Joanie; Megan Foley-Nicpon (Jamie) and their children, Danny, Connor and Grace. He is predeceased by his parents, siblings, and his beloved daughter Joannie. He was a faithful parishioner of Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, and a devoted husband and father. He was known for his quick smile, twinkling blue eyes, keen Irish wit, and uncanny resemblance to Paul Newman.

Visitation will be Thursday, August 18, from 4:00 to 7:00 pm at Lensing Funeral Home, where a Vigil Service will be held at 7PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at Saint Mary’s Catholic Church on Friday, August 19th at 10:00 am with Father Steven Witt officiating. A luncheon will follow in Saint Mary’s Parish Hall. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Saint Mary’s Catholic Church, the Regina Foundation, or Iowa City Hospice.

Lensing Funeral & Cremation Service
 

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