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Obituaries » Ronald J. Foster
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A visitation rosary will be held on Tuesday, October 1 from 4-7 pm at Joldersma-Klein Funeral Home, 917 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo, Michigan, with the rosary beginning at 6:30 pm. Funeral Mass will follow on Wednesday, October 2 at 11 am at St. Martin of Tours Catholic Church, 5855 E. W Ave., Vicksburg, Michigan, followed by full military honors. Donations in Ron’s memory can be made to the Wounded Warrior Project. Envelopes will be available at the funeral home or church.
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Ron was born in Kalamazoo to Andrew and Elizabeth Foster. He passed peacefully in his home
with loved ones caring for him.
After graduating from St. Augustine Catholic School, Ron attended Flint Barber College, and
went on to open Foster’s Barber Shop in Portage. At the same time, Ron proudly served in the
Army Reserves as a medic.
Soon after meeting the love of his life, Ron married Carole Brewer in 1963. Together they had
three children: Ronald James, Stephanie (Ric) Sampson, and Julie (Brian Wood) Walters. They
settled in Kalamazoo.
Wanting to change careers, Ron attended WMU’s Paper Technology program. He enjoyed sales,
meeting many friends and entertaining colleagues. This was Ron’s niche, having a socially
interactive job with travel elements and opportunities to use his God given gift of humor! Ron
eventually used his knowledge and experience to open his own business, the RJ Foster Company
and became a manufacturer’s representative. He was an interest owner in Twinsburg Mold,
which gave him the ability to produce parts he created that were sold by his company. Ron was
always an extremely hard worker, beginning as a young teen at a pool hall!
Ron’s dream of living on a farm came to fruition in the mid 70’s. It was important to him that his
children grow up in a rural environment. There were cows and horses, vegetable gardens and
summertime corn roasts. He had much to learn as a gentlemen farmer, and did so with
determination, hard work, and help from family, friends and neighboring farmers.
Along with billiards, Ron loved to golf in his spare time. He was in several leagues and enjoyed
many golf trips, which led to his Snowbird status in Rotonda West, Florida, where he enjoyed
more frequent golfing opportunities.
Ron is survived by his children as well as 9 grandchildren: Loren (Joey) Jackson, Hannah
Sampson, Patric (Maggie) Sampson, Connor (Rachel) Sampson, Logan Walters, Sophie (Brent
Smith) Walters, Jack (Valeria de Luna-Kent) Walters, Evan (Gaby Macanas-Romanelli)
Sampson, and Owen Sampson. Ron also has 9 great-grandchildren who enjoyed his silly songs
and unique nicknames that will stay with them forever!
Preceding Ron in death are his parents and ten siblings.
