Obit: Foster, Gene Michael (1923 - 2004)

Contact: History Buffs 

Surnames: Foster, Steinberg, Frisk, Pulliam, Kerby, Jackson, Larson, Walsh, Bailey, Udy, Challancin, Oberto, Butorac, Keitzer, Dorais, Loman, Crotty, Guenther

----Sources: Mining Journal (Marquette, Marquette County, Michigan) 02/15/2004

Foster, Gene Michael (6 Aug. 1923 - 12 Feb. 2004)

ISHPEMING - Gene Michael Foster, age 80 of 165 Arbutus St. in Ishpeming Twp., was called home to the Lord, in the presence of his family, at 1:50AM on Thursday February 12, 2004 at the Marquette General Hospital.

Gene was born August 6, 1923 in Colby, WI the son of the late Alvin and Theresa (Steinberg) Foster. He served in the United States Navy during World War II in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater of operations. Gene moved to this area in 1947 from Marshfield, WI, having married Janet Frisk in 1948 in Michigamme. After moving to Ishpeming he worked at Gatleys and Inland Steel's Morris Mine until closing. He then worked for Frost Moving and Storage for awhile until he was employed at C.C.I., where he retired as a drill operator.

Gene was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church, and the Knights of Columbus Fr. Ouellette Council #1541 and of the 4th Degree - Snowshoe Priest Assembly. He was also a member of the Ishpeming V.F.W. Post #4573, and a retired member of the United Steelworkers of America local #4950, where he had been active during his working years. He was a pioneer member of the former St. Pius X Catholic Church where he had been very active in church activities, and served on the parish council. Gene was a past member of the St. Vincent DePaul Society. In the 1960's and early 1970's he served on the Ishpeming Township Board. He was a former member of the Junction Club and enjoyed playing cribbage and had belonged to the Ishpeming Cribbage League. Gene was an avid Green Bay Packer fan. He enjoyed helping his neighbors along with taking time for fishing, but the true love of his life was his family in which he took great pride.

Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Janet (Frisk) Foster of Ishpeming; 3 sons - Thomas (Mary) Foster of Sandy. UT, Roger (Dianna) Foster of West Valley, UT and Stuart (Lorena) Foster of Kearns, UT; 4 daughters - Carol (Thomas) Pulliam of Palo Alto, CA, Mary (Wes) Kerby of Elk Grove, CA, Betty Jackson of Ishpeming and Cynthia (Charles) Larson of Ishpeming; 2 sisters - Jane (Walter) Walsh of Ishpeming and Joyce Bailey of Evanston, WY; 22 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews. Gene was preceded in death by his parents, 12 brothers, 2 sisters and a grandson Charles Udy.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 11:00AM on Monday February 16, 2004 at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Ishpeming with the Rev. Fr. James Challancin & Msgr. Peter Oberto as con-celebrants. Interment will take place at Northland Chapel Gardens.

Friends may call at the Bjork & Zhulkie Funeral Home from 4 until 8 PM on Sunday Feb. 15th where the Knights of Columbus will recite the Rosary at 7:30PM and a parish prayer service will be held at 7:45PM. Friends may also call at the St. Joseph Catholic Church from 10:00AM until the time of services on Monday Feb. 16th.

Pallbearers will be members of the Knights of Columbus Snowshoe Priest Assembly - James Butorac, Robert Keitzer, John Dorais, Mark Loman, Charles Crotty & Dave Guenther. Honorary Pallbearers will be Members of the Knights of Columbus.