Foster L. Willey

Foster Willey, 86, artist, musician, husband, father and grandpa, died at home on Sunday, October 16, surrounded by his family. A memorial service for friends and family will be held 3:00 P.M., on November 12, 2005, at the Box Factory in St. Joseph. Donations may be made to Hospice At Home, or The Box Factory for the Arts. Those wishing to sign the guestbook or share a memory online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com Arrangements are entrusted to Kerley-Starks & Menchinger Family Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Rd., St. Joseph. Foster was born in Waterloo, Iowa and served in the Army Corp of Engineers during World War II. After the war, he attended the American Academy of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. He has participated in the local art scene as a teacher at the Krasl Art Center, exhibited in many area shows, and maintained his membership in the art center and the Berrien Artist Guild. In 1948 he married Barbara Pistorius of Elmhurst, Illinois and settled in St. Joseph, where he was a graphic specialist at Whirlpool Corporation for 25 years. Throughout his life he continued with his artistic pursuits of painting and sculpture. In retirement, he also took up the Irish bodhran drum and developed a love for Celtic music. He loved attending music festivals and played in various local Irish folk groups. Foster is survived by his wife Barbara;,six sons, five daughters, fifteen grandchildren, three great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his brother Keith and his sister Mary Weekley.