Gordon W. Foster

Feb. 28, 1937 – March 21, 2022

Gordon “Gordy” William Foster, 85, Hillsboro, passed away with loved ones present on Monday, March 21, 2022 at 11:27 a.m.

He was born on Feb. 28, 1937 at 107 Miller Avenue in Joliet, Ill. He was the son of the late Francis William and Blanche Lavaughn (Gordon) Foster.

Mr. Foster was raised in Joliet, Ill. and later moved to Galesburg, Ill., graduating from Galesburg High School in 1955. He attended Browns Business College and Wickes Management Training. Following graduation from high school Gordon enlisted in the Illinois National Guard and served until May of 1961.  At the time of his honorable discharge from the Illinois National Guard he had attained the rank of Sergeant E-5.

Gordon worked with Wickes Lumber from 1962-1972, including years at Galesburg, Ill., Breese, Ill., Bloomfield, Ind. and finally as manager at Hillsboro. He retired from CLB Development in 2003.

He was a people person, enjoying a good conversation, whether it be regarding antique autos or fighting fires. He served as a volunteer fireman for the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department for over 50 years and in 2020 was awarded his fifty-year pin by the Indiana Volunteer Fire Fighters Association in Indianapolis. He was active in the town of Hillsboro, serving two terms on the Town Council and also served as Justice of the Peace before the office was eliminated. He was active in the Hillsboro Booster Club. He was a member of the St. Joseph Catholic Church and had served on the Parish Council of the church.  A large part of his life was service to others. Following his retirement he assisted the Shelby Funeral Home in Covington and the Maus Funeral Home in Hillsboro and Attica up until his death.

He had a great passion for antique autos and was Past President of the Illiana Antique Auto Club.

He was very fond of the community of Hillsboro and when he decided to stay in Hillsboro he built the home that he was presently living in until the time of his death.

On June 28, 1958, he married Sharon “Sherry” Lynne Johnson by Father Alphonsus A. Curran in the Corpus Christi Catholic Church in Galesburg, Ill.

Survivors include his wife, Sherry of nearly 64 years; his four children, Jody (Tom) Fishero of Hillsboro, Shelley Mitchell (Doug Barthalow) of Westville, Ill., Darcy (Bradley) Quakenbush of Martinsville, Ind. and Danny (Rachel) Foster of Veedersburg; thirteen grandchildren, Jessica Fishero (Ed Stewart) of Linden, Gary (Amanda) Fishero of Crawfordsville, Wesley (Megan) Fishero of Hillsboro, Maggie (Jake) Winchester of Lafayette, Lillianne Fishero of Hillsboro, Tyler (Kristin) Taylor of West Lafayette, Carley Taylor (Justin Skolek) of Peoria, Ill., Alexis Dowers of Cayuga, Jayci Furr (Blake Minnicus) of Mellott, Colin Furr of Chicago, MacKenzie Foster (Josh White) of Mackinac Island, Mich., Julia Foster (Mitchell VanCleave) of Kingman, Gabriella Foster (Dylan Popp) of Veedersburg; eight great-grandchildren, Braylin and Brantlee Dowers, Thomas and Lucille Fishero, Gibson and Lenora Taylor, Madison and Joshua Fishero. 

He was preceded in death by an infant son, Timothy Gene Foster; and his parents.

Friends may call at the Maus Funeral Home, Hillsboro on Friday, March 25th, from 4 – 8 p.m., with Rosary Services beginning at 3:45 p.m. and a State IVFA (Indiana Volunteer Firefighters Association) Service beginning at 8 p.m. A funeral service will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, March 26th at 11 a.m., with Rev. David Rasner officiating. Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery, Hillsboro with a “Final Call” following the service. Memorial contributions are preferred to be made to the Hillsboro Volunteer Fire Department, 302 Murphy St., Hillsboro, IN 47949.

Condolences may be sent online to www.mausfuneralhome.com.