Bio: Foster, John - Am. Legion Honors Military Service (2015)

Contact: Dolores (Mohr) Kenyon
E-mail: dolores@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Foster, Schaub

----Source: Clark County Press (Neillsville, Clark Co., WI) 4/15/2015

Legion Honors John Foster for Military Service (March 2015)


Foster Honored by Neillsville American Legion



The Neillsville American Legion Post 73 recently honored John Foster, OD, of Neillsville for his military service. The honoree certificate was presented during a family gathering at Tufts’ Mansion in Neillsville. (Contributed photo)

By Todd Schmidt

The Neillsville American Legion Post 73 recently honored John Foster, OD, 89, of Neillsville for his military service.

Foster is now a resident of the Clark County Rehabilitation and Living Center in Owen. Carol Schaub of the American Legion Auxiliary interviewed Foster along with family members at Tufts’ Mansion during a recent birthday party for his wife Delores (‘Dee’). He was presented with an honoree certificate at that time.

“I really enjoyed interviewing John,” Schaub said. “He was quite a sense of humor.”

In 1943, Foster joined the V5 Naval Reserve Officer Training School in Minnesota. He moved on to Flight Training School in Sioux City, IA.

His son Gary explained the V1 programs have different stages. He said the V5 program was for those attending college.

Foster then attended college for pre-med in Minnesota. He was side-tracked a year later due to surgery for appendicitis.

The Navy then released Foster from the V5 program, as the end of the war was imminent. He continued with the Naval Reserves for five years with the rank of lieutenant.

Foster was born Sept. 25, 1925, to Leo and Martha Foster in Neillsville. He attended Neillsville High School, leaving early to join the Navy and continue his education.

He and Dee were married in 1949 in St. Paul, MN. They moved to Forest Grove, OR, where he attended Pacific University for optometry.

After finishing school, Foster established an optometry practice in Thorp. In 1965, his mother retired as an optometrist in Neillsville and Foster moved to Neillsville to take over the business.

His father served as mayor of Neillsville from 1954 to 1956.

Foster and Dee have five sons, John in North Dakota, Jeff in Kentucky, Gary in Oklahoma City, OK, Mark in Minnesota and Greg in Neillsville. They enjoy 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

 

 


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