Melvin E. Foster was born December 5, 1934, to William and Mae (Hendrix) Foster, in Eddyville, Iowa.

He attended country school through eighth grade and Eddyville High School through 10th grade. He was needed at home to help out financially and worked for farmers for a while, then went to work at Wakes Feed Mill in Oskaloosa.

Melvin met Doris while visiting a friend in her neighborhood and they were married on June 5, 1955, at the Nazarene Church in Oskaloosa. They were blessed with four children and adopted a granddaughter.

Melvin worked at Pella Corporation for ten years and retired from Vermeer Manufacturing after working there for 30 years as a lathe operator.

Melvin enjoyed making wood crafts as a hobby and spent a lot of time remodeling their homes.

Melvin became disabled after losing both of his legs from diabetes. He liked watching the Iowa Hawkeyes games, putting puzzles together and watching the birds and small animals that visited their bird feeder.

Melvin was baptized at First Baptist Church in Pella in 1983. At the time of his death, he was a faithful member of Third Church in Pella.

He loved his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren and they loved him.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife Doris and their family:

Stephen Douglas Foster, Oskaloosa

Tim and Patty Foster, Oskaloosa

Mike Lanphier

John Lanphier

Gary Foster, Bellevue

Becky and Craig Meyer, Pella

Stephen Meyer and fiancée Jamie

Ella, Hazel, Adrie, Hudson

Jordan Meyer and fiancée Paige

Kinzley, Emery, Drew, Logan, Oakley

Mackenzie Meyer & Harlow (dog)

Carrie Meyer & Lulu (dog)

Melvin was preceded in death by his parents William and Mae Foster, his sister and brother-in-law: Homer and Pearl Werner, nephew Irvin Werner, mother-in-law Marie Hoeksema, and brother-in-law Russell Albaugh.

American Diabetes Association