Gaylen C. Foster

Gaylen Clifford Foster, 77, of St. Joseph, passed away Monday, May 31, 2010 at his home surrounded by his loving family. A celebration of life service will be held on Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. at Starks and Menchinger Funeral Home, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. A reception will follow at the funeral home. The Rev. Krehl Stringer of St. Lukes Lutheran Church will officiate. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Lakeland Hospice in Gaylen‘s honor. A private burial will take place at Hickory Bluff Cemetery. Gaylen was born on December 19, 1932 in Beulah, North Dakota. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and graduated from Minnesota School of Business. He started his career as a Court Reporter in Columbus, Ohio. After moving to Michigan in 1967, he continued his career at the Berrien County Courthouse, where he retired after 27 years of service. Gaylen will be remembered as a good man, husband and father. He enjoyed traveling the world with his family, golfing, bowling and playing cards. He touched the lives of all who knew him, including his longtime friends Don and Vivian Kesterke. Gaylen is survived by his loving wife of 51 years, Connie; two daughters Kim (Pat) Delmontagne of St. Petersburg, Florida and Lynda (Dan) Martin of Watervliet; one son Greg Foster of Salt Lake City, Utah; three grandsons Bryan Foster of Watervliet and Josh and Shawn Delmontage of St. Petersburg, Florida; sisters Margaret Hodges of Minnesota and Sylvia (Sam) Henry of Washington. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters. Friends wishing to sign the family guestbook or to leave a message of condolence, may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com