Earl "Shorty" Foster
July 22, 1923 — March 7, 2013
Funeral Services: 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 11, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa
Visitation: 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2013 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Earl “Shorty” Junior Foster was born on a farm in East Boyer Township, Crawford County, Iowa, July 22, 1923, the son of Emmor Harold and Helen Kathryn Carstensen Foster. He was raised on farms in the Deloit area and received his education in the Stockholm Township Rural Schools. Following his education he was employed by area farmers and will be remembered by many for his love of fast pitch softball and his pitching abilities. On December 15, 1948, Earl was united in marriage with Lucile Margaret Petersen at the Zion Parsonage in Denison. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Lorna and Lila. They made their home on the farm in East Boyer Township where Earl farmed until moving to Denison in 1960. After moving to Denison Earl was employed at IBP and later at World Wide Meats which became Dubuque Pack as their knife sharpener. Following his retirement in 1985 he continued his knife sharpening business at his home in Denison as long as his health permitted. He and Lucile celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1998. Lucile died April 19, 2006. In his spare time Shorty enjoyed gardening, knife sharpening, collecting key chains, picking up and cracking black walnuts and selling the nutmeats, socializing with friends and family and, in his younger years, going to dances. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison where he was baptized and confirmed in April of 1959. Earl died late Thursday, March 7, 2013, at his home in Denison under the loving care of his daughters, Lorna and Lila. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 89 years, 7 months and 15 days. Including his parents and his wife, Earl was also preceded in death by one brother, Eugene Foster and two sisters-in-law, Nola and Luetta Foster. Those remaining to cherish his memory include two daughters: Lorna Foster and Lila Foster, both of Denison, Iowa; brother, Elmer “Pee Wee” Foster of Beaverton, Oregon; brother-in-law, Bernhard Petersen and wife Marilyn of Schleswig, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Marie Wordekemper and husband Lawrence and Ruth Maack and husband Merlin, all of Denison, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 11, 2013, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiating. Music for the service included soloist Larry Boeck singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” and the congregation singing “I Know That My Redeemers Lives” with Karen Kahl serving as organist. Pallbearers included Paul Foster, Duane Maack, Lonald Patchin, Jr., Charles Boeck, Mark Jorgensen and Ronald M. Klink. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa. Following the interment all were invited to return to the church and join the family for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by Zion Ladies Aid. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
Visitation: 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. Sunday, March 10, 2013 at Pfannebecker Funeral Home, Denison, Iowa
Earl “Shorty” Junior Foster was born on a farm in East Boyer Township, Crawford County, Iowa, July 22, 1923, the son of Emmor Harold and Helen Kathryn Carstensen Foster. He was raised on farms in the Deloit area and received his education in the Stockholm Township Rural Schools. Following his education he was employed by area farmers and will be remembered by many for his love of fast pitch softball and his pitching abilities. On December 15, 1948, Earl was united in marriage with Lucile Margaret Petersen at the Zion Parsonage in Denison. Their union was blessed with two daughters, Lorna and Lila. They made their home on the farm in East Boyer Township where Earl farmed until moving to Denison in 1960. After moving to Denison Earl was employed at IBP and later at World Wide Meats which became Dubuque Pack as their knife sharpener. Following his retirement in 1985 he continued his knife sharpening business at his home in Denison as long as his health permitted. He and Lucile celebrated their Golden Wedding Anniversary in 1998. Lucile died April 19, 2006. In his spare time Shorty enjoyed gardening, knife sharpening, collecting key chains, picking up and cracking black walnuts and selling the nutmeats, socializing with friends and family and, in his younger years, going to dances. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Denison where he was baptized and confirmed in April of 1959. Earl died late Thursday, March 7, 2013, at his home in Denison under the loving care of his daughters, Lorna and Lila. At the time of his death he had been blessed with 89 years, 7 months and 15 days. Including his parents and his wife, Earl was also preceded in death by one brother, Eugene Foster and two sisters-in-law, Nola and Luetta Foster. Those remaining to cherish his memory include two daughters: Lorna Foster and Lila Foster, both of Denison, Iowa; brother, Elmer “Pee Wee” Foster of Beaverton, Oregon; brother-in-law, Bernhard Petersen and wife Marilyn of Schleswig, Iowa; sisters-in-law: Marie Wordekemper and husband Lawrence and Ruth Maack and husband Merlin, all of Denison, Iowa; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, March 11, 2013, at Zion Lutheran Church, Denison, Iowa, with the Rev. Kurt R. Kaiser and the Rev. David M. Sewing officiating. Music for the service included soloist Larry Boeck singing “How Great Thou Art” and “Rock of Ages, Cleft for Me” and the congregation singing “I Know That My Redeemers Lives” with Karen Kahl serving as organist. Pallbearers included Paul Foster, Duane Maack, Lonald Patchin, Jr., Charles Boeck, Mark Jorgensen and Ronald M. Klink. Interment was at Crawford Heights Memory Gardens, Denison, Iowa. Following the interment all were invited to return to the church and join the family for fellowship and a luncheon prepared and served by Zion Ladies Aid. The Pfannebecker Funeral Home, www.pfannebecker.com , Denison, Iowa, was in charge of arrangements.
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