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Kendall was born August 18, 1926 in Ithaca, Michigan to Frank and Luella (Haas) Foster. He grew up working on the family farm along with his three brothers, Kenneth, Keith, and Kermit. In 1945, he enlisted in the Army as a Rifleman in the 51st Infantry and was stationed in Japan.
After returning home, he worked on the family farm and along with his brother, Keith, opened a gas station in downtown Ithaca. After the gas station venture, he moved to Flint to work for Chevrolet Auto Factory and it was during that time, that he met his future wife, Marlene Thompson, whose grandmother ran the boarding house where he stayed. He and Marlene were married December 14, 1957 in Flint, Michigan at Marlene’s family home. They spent the first few years of married life in Spring Arbor and Fruitport and in 1959 moved back to Kendall’s family farm after his father died. During this time, Kendall built them a family home that they moved into in 1962.
Kendall spent 30 years working road construction as a heavy equipment operator. This required him to work jobs long distances from home. Instead of staying at hotels, as many did, he insisted on driving back and forth each day and night, so he could spend the night at home. During the summer months when Kendall was working at Port Austin and Gaylord, the family was able to stay with him, either in a hotel or a travel trailer.
Kendall was a man of many talents and accomplishments. He was a Jack of All Trades, whether it be mechanical, electrical, plumbing, construction, etc. He could fix just about anything. He loved vintage cars and had several restored, including a Ford Model T, a 1935 Packard, and two 1964 Chrysler Imperials. He also loved collecting Cub Cadet Garden Tractors from the 1970’s that he would work on and restore. These were great winter projects for him. He enjoyed rabbit hunting with his daughter and with the family beagle, Penny. He liked to fish. He was a skilled woodworker and would cut down walnut, cherry and maple trees, plane the wood, and then create beautiful items, including grandmother clocks, mantle clocks, nightstands, wine cabinets, spinning wheels, and more. He loved making maple syrup. He would tap the maple trees in his yard, as well as his neighbor’s, and bottled his own maple syrup, a skill that he passed down to his daughter. He grew English Walnut trees and harvested the nuts, which he shelled and sold locally. He was an enthusiastic morel hunter, and black cap hunter. Over the years, he kept increasing the size of his garden and orchard, growing peach trees and apple trees. He also raised strawberries and raspberries and always put in a huge vegetable garden, taking great pride in it. Three weeks ago, he insisted that he needed to plant two tomato plants and planted them in his old garden plot.
Kendall had an impeccable work ethic, instilled at a young age from working hard on the family farm. He continued to be active into his early 90’s and hated not being able to do the things he used to do. His family was very important to Kendall. After retiring, he and Marlene enjoyed traveling together, taking trips to Hawaii, Aruba, and the Bahamas, as well as trips to visit their son in Arizona. He loved being a Papa to grandson, Logan. Logan shared that he watched his very first football game on TV with him and was explained the rules of the game. He also taught Logan how to gamble, as they bet a quarter on this same game! Logan was 10. He was very active and involved in his grandson’s life and always present at his sporting events, was always up for a game of baseball or tag in the yard, and dearly loved family birthday celebrations and holidays. Game nights were an important family tradition with much laughter and competition.
Friendships were very important to Kendall. Over the last few years, once Kendall stopped driving, his buddy, Mike Glynn, would pick him up almost every day, and drive them both to Burger King where they always ordered two, decaf, senior coffees, stop at Mike’s sister’s house for homemade cookies, and then drive to the cemetery or the park and enjoy their treat. They became friends in 1959 working for the same road construction company.
Another good friend, Dick Pharr, would pick him up for their weekly breakfast outings, Burger King being their favorite place to go. Gene Pitcher, a long-time neighbor, was also a very important friend in Kendall’s life.
Kendall lived life to the fullest and we are better for having known him. He will be greatly missed. Kendall is survived by his daughter, Julie (Vic) Beard of Ithaca, son, Steve Foster, and grandson, Logan (Abigail) Beard of Des Moines, IA. He was preceded in death by his wife, Marlene, brothers, Kenneth and Keith and parents Frank and Luella.
A graveside service for friends and family will be held Wednesday, 6/23/2021 at the Ithaca Cemetery. A Celebration of Lives of both Marlene & Kendall Foster will be held at The Fields Golf Course, 6/23/2021 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. following the graveside service.
The family is being served by the Barden Funeral Home in Ithaca. Condolences may be left for the family online at www.bardenfuneralhome.com.
