Frank Ward Foster, Jr

Foster, Frank Ward, Jr.

Frank Ward Foster, Jr., 88, of Kenosha, WI, passed away peacefully, at home, on April 20, 2013. He was able to enjoy the company of his family and caregiving angels during the past few weeks.

Frank was born in Springfield on December 22, 1924 to Frank and Nettie (Bellinger) Foster. He spent most of his childhood in Elmhurst and graduated from York High School in 1942.

From 1943 to 1946, he proudly served in the United States Navy, spending most of that time in the north Atlantic on the Destroyer Escort 210, USS Otter, accompanying ships from the eastern US coast to various Mediterranean ports including Casablanca. No ships were lost during these operations. He also served in the Asiatic Pacific Campaign, and in China.

Frank and Jean Marie Dresser were married on May 31, 1947 in Villa Park, at the home of the bride's family. Frank received a bachelor of arts in economics from Elmhurst College in 1951. Frank and Jean lived in Villa Park until 1978, during which time Frank was active in the community. He served as a Trustee for the Village of Villa Park, Trustee of the Salt Creek Sanitary District, and a member of the High School District 88 Caucus.

Frank worked for Argonne National Laboratory as a contract administrator, for close to 30 years.

Frank was a modest man with a wide variety of interests and talents; rebuilding the engine for their Chevrolet Corvair, rewiring a house with his father, making soap in the style of the early pioneers, and teaching evening classes in mathematics at Proviso East High School. For several decades Frank was an avid woodworker and worked almost exclusively with walnut for the last 20 years. Always starting with rough sawn boards, he made numerous pieces of beautiful furniture. His specialty however was clocks; varying from regal grandfather clocks to handsome mantel clocks, and always with a hand rubbed finish.

In 1978 Frank and Jean built their retirement home at the Goose Lake community near Morris, which served as a favorite getaway for the family to enjoy fishing, boating, swimming and barbecues. His interests expanded to stained glass and wood carving, and he created many beautiful works of art during those years. In 1991, Frank and Jean moved into a California style home in Morris. Their location, nestled in the woods at the top of a ravine overlooking Nettle Creek, provided countless opportunities to observe nature over the next 14 years. Frank and Jean moved to Kenosha, WI at the end of 2005.

Frank is survived by his wife, Jean; their children, James (Janet) Foster of Pleasant Prairie, WI, Michael (Karen) Foster of Joliet, IL, and Laura (Thomas) Biskie of Morris, IL; and four grandchildren, Jenna (Jeff) Spielmann of Madison, WI, Jared (fiancAC.e Grace Huber) Foster of Ann Arbor, MI, Brian (Shawna Flavell) Biskie of Richmond, VA, and Karen (Andrew) Kaniewski of Clinton, WA.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents, and sister and brother-in-law, Carol and Wayne Lami.

Funeral Services were held on Saturday, April 27, 2013 at the Piasecki-Althaus Funeral Home. Interment of ashes with military honors provided by the James Harvey Scott American Legion Post 189 Alexis will be 2:00 P.M. Saturday, September 7, 2013 Alexis Cemetery, Alexis, IL with Rev. Terry Johnston of the Village Baptist Church, Alexis. Memorial made be made to Hospice Alliance, Inc., 10220 Prairie Ridge Blvd., Pleasant Prairie, WI 53158 or the Salvation Army, 3116 75th St., Kenosha, WI 53142. Hoover-Hall Memorial Chapel, Alexis is in charge of local arrangements.