Obit: Will, Foster, H.C. (1912 - 2012)
 
Contact: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 
 
Surnames: Will, Foster, Meyer, Rineck, Lokken
 
----Source: Marshfield News Herald (Marshfield, WI) 05/23/2012
 
Will, Foster, H.C. (23 JAN 1912 - 21 MAY 2012)
 
Foster H. C. Will, age 100, of Owen, passed away on Monday, May 21, 2012 at Ministry Saint Joseph's Hospital in Marshfield. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Owen on Friday, May 25, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. Father Keith Kitzhaber will officiate. A visitation will be held from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. Thursday at the Maurina-Schilling Funeral Home in Owen with a rosary service at 7:00 p.m. and again on Friday at the Church from 10:00 a.m. until time of services. Burial will be in the Riverside Cemetery in the Town of Hixon. Serving as pallbearers will be; Terry Ciszewski, Monte Lokken, Greg Rineck, Bryan Rineck, Tim Rineck and Mike McCabe. 

Foster was born January 23, 1912 to Joseph and Hazel (Foster) Will in the Town of Colby, WI. As a freshman in High School Foster went to Saint John's University, there he studied to become a priest. He was a 1929 graduate of Colby High School, while in school he worked at the Colby Hotel, gas station and worked several years on his uncle Tony's farm. After graduation Foster was a mail carrier for one year and then was laid off. He also worked road construction in Woodville, WI moving dirt for his uncle Tony, during this time he acquired two teams of horses which he was extremely proud of. Foster worked at Fred Lakosky Implement in Loyal as a bookkeeper and salesman from 1933 to 1937. Foster married Ruth Meyer on August 13, 1937 at Saint Anthony's Catholic Church in Loyal. Foster and Ruth moved to Owen in February 1937 to start the Will's Implement which sold IH, New Holland, Gehl and other implements. They bought the Culligan franchise in 1945 and in 1950 Foster went into LP gas and built up the business with three trucks and at one time had 15 employees. In 1941 they moved into a house and lived there until 1994 when they built their present home. He built a cottage in northern Wisconsin in 1949 which was sold in 1977 and bought a summer home in Willard. He sold his last business in 1993 at the age of 81. Foster also purchased a Florida home in 1987 which was sold in 2005. 

Foster was a member of Marion Council of the Knights of Columbus: two years as an officer; Kiwanis Club: president, lieutenant governor and member of the board; Owen Businessmen Association: president; Owen Junior Fair Board was a member, president, vice president and served ten years as entertainment chairman, Holy Rosary Catholic Church: Chairman of Diocesan Appeals since it's inception, was a trustee, choir member, on the finance committee and a special assistant to Father Crubel for building of the new church, he set-up and organized the number system for church dinners. Foster donated the Risen Christ, stand for bells outside and a window for the church.

Foster started a scholarship fund called the Foster and Ruth Will O-W all-around Student Scholarship, which covers up to four years of college and the Holy Cross Seminary Education Endowment Trust, which began in 1995 on Foster and Ruth's 60th wedding anniversary.

Foster is survived by his children: Charlotte (John) Rineck of Rice Lake, Lana Ciszewski of Owen and Virginia (Larry) Lokken of Eau Claire, 9 grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren and 2 great-great grandchildren.

He is preceded in death by his parents, wife; Ruth, grandson; Michael Lokken, one brother and one sister.

The Maurina Schilling Funeral Home in Owen is assisting the family with arrangements.

In lieu of flowers memorials can be made to the Holy Cross Seminary Education Endowment Trust.