Willard S Foster 1898-1979

FOSTER, SCHEAFER

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 5/6/2009 at 22:19:35

Mapleton Press
18 January 1979

Former Rodney Resident Dies

Service were held Friday morning January 12, at the Wagner Iverson Funeral home in Vermillion, South Dakota for Willard S Foster, 81, of Gayville, South Dakota. Rev Mike Halsted officiated. Burial took place at Grant Cemetery near Rodney with Rev EE Epperson officiating.

Mr Foster, formely of Rodney, Iowa, died January 8, at a Yankton, South Dakota hospital after a brief illness.

He was born January 29, 1898 and married Emma Schaefer August 29, 1837 in Sioux City. He was an Army veteran of World Wars I and II and a retired Milwaukee Railroad employee. He was a lifelong member of the American Legion and of the Ember Rebekah Lodge and Odd Fellows, both of Rodney.

He was preceded in death by his wife, who died February 16, 1976; his parents, a sister, Emma; and a brother, Virgil.

Survivors include 15 nieces and nephews.

Paper & date unknown
Willard S. Foster, 80, died Jan. 8 at Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton after a brief illness.

Services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, January 12 at Wagner. Iverson Funeral Home in Vermillion South Dakota. Officiating was Rev. Mike Halstead from the Church of Christ in Yankton. Interment was at Grant Cemetery near Rodney, Iowa.

Graveside services were conducted by Rev. Everett Epperson from the First Christian Church of Onawa.

Willard S. Foster was born in 1898 in Cornell Township, Livingston County, Illinois at the age of 4 he and his family moved to a farm directly east of Onawa. The years following as a boy and young man were spent at Onawa, Ticonic, Rodney and Sioux City.

His 42 years with the Chicago Milwaukee Railroad took him to many locations, in Iowa and South Dakota, including Gayville, South Dakota where he retired and resided until the time of his death.

He married Emma Schaefer, August 29, 1937 in Sioux City. No children were born to this union but he enjoyed the company of his many nieces and nephews.

Mr. Foster was a 60 year member of the Odd Fellow and Rebecca Lodges at Rodney and a member of the America Legion after serving in both World Wars.

Preceding him in death were his parents, John and Laura Foster, eight brothers and sisters and his wife Emma. Brothers and sisters were, Vida Kennedy, Sac City, Winifred “Fred” Foster who operated the Kennebic General Store for many years, Effie Kennedy, Sac City, Joshua Foster, Ida Grove, Lucy Travier, Minneapolis, Jossie Williams, Washington State, Emma Riddle, Rodney, Virgil Foster, New York City all of whom had resided around Onawa and Rodney for many years.

Surviving him are 17 nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews

Tombstone Photo
 

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