DAVID ANDREW FOSTER

David Andrew Foster was born on the family farm near Lena on April 22, 1937, where he grew up with his parents Fred and Lucy (Banin / Hammond) and younger brother Cecil. He attended school at Lena, then high school in Killarney.

Dad enlisted in the Royal Canadian Navy in 1956 and began basic training at Cornwallis, NS. His aspiration of being a naval officer ended when his father was diagnosed with cancer and he had to return home to run the farm. Dad had a mixed farm and raised Black Angus cattle and pigs with help from his Uncle Bill and hired men, and his sons when they got older.

Dad and Mom (Yvonne Mathie) were married in 1957 and had three children, Dianne, Cameron, and Darren. Dad was involved in the community, was a member of the Elks, and curled in the winter. He coached Cameron's and Darren's hockey teams for many years and was respected and well-liked by the players and their parents. Dad joked many times that they never realized how poor they were! We had a rich life where it counted.

Dad decided he needed a change from farming, so they bought the Emerald Isle Motel and Campground in Killarney and we moved to town in 1972. Many regular campers became friends over the years. They sold the motel in 1983. Dad got a job managing the Legion in Morden while Mom worked at a grocery store in Killarney. They separated and Mom died in 1987.

Dad and Hannelore moved to Meadowlark Trailer Park in Brandon and were married in 1988. They led a quiet life. They enjoyed camping in their travel trailer in the summer for many years, making trips to B.C. and visiting some of Dad's high school friends, and stayed at campgrounds around Saskatchewan and Alberta. They enjoyed occasional trips to the casino at Carberry. Most days they played at least one game of Scrabble.

When they moved to Brandon, Dad got a job at People's Marketplace and retired at age 65, in 2002, when he also quit smoking. Retirement lasted a couple of months while he and Hannelore took an extended camping vacation. He went back to work part-time at Piston Ring delivering auto parts and worked there for 27 years, just retiring in September at age 87. He enjoyed the work and really liked all the people he worked with, and we know the feeling was mutual. Dad got a kick out of surprising people with his age when the topic came up, because he looked many years younger than he was.

Dad finally retired because he was getting more and more tired. That was the start of a deterioration with what turned out to be advanced lung cancer. Nobody could persuade him to go to the doctor before he needed prescriptions near the end of December. He was admitted to Brandon Regional Health Centre on December 28 and died on January 13. A doctor said she didn’t know how he functioned so well as long as he did.

Dad told everyone over the last few months that he had lived a good, long life, but we all expected it would be longer. Dad had a positive attitude, was patient, rarely lost his temper (maybe once or twice when we were kids!), and avoided confrontation. He was friendly with everyone he met. He was interested in what was happening in the world and always read newspapers and watched the news on TV. He was proud of his kids and grandkids and their accomplishments.

David is survived and missed by his wife Hannelore; children Dianne (Marvin Charney), Cameron (Joanne), Darren, and grandchildren, as well as his brother Cec (Lynda) and nieces and their families.

He was predeceased by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.

A small get-together will be planned for the summer.

David’s family kindly requests that all of his friends and relatives take a few minutes to honour his memory by sharing photos, memories, and stories, using the comment section on this page.

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ETHICAL DEATH CARE

Cremation & Life Celebrations

530 St. Mary Avenue - Winnipeg

204-421-5501 - www.ethicaldeathcare.com

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