Michael W. Foster

Michael W. Foster, 79, of Waukee, died Sunday, October 12, 2025. A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m., Monday, October 20, 2025, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory in Newton. The family will greet friends from 10-11 a.m., Monday, October 20, at the funeral home. Burial will be held at 11 a.m., Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter. Memorials to Iowa Paralyzed Veterans of America can be left at the funeral home.

Mike, the son of Orville and Thelma (Dewey) Foster, was born July 10, 1946, in Grinnell. He grew up in Newton and graduated from Newton High School in 1964. He later attended DMACC where he earned a degree as a substance abuse counselor. Mike served his country in the US Air Force for 2 years until he sustained a spinal cord injury. Mike was united in marriage with Diann Boll on June 3, 1972, in Grinnell. The couple resided in the Des Moines area for a few years before making their home in Earlham, where they lived for 34 years. For the last 8 years, Mike and Diann lived in Waukee. While living in Earlham, Mike owned and operated Earlham Furniture Restoration and also had an antique store in town. He also owned Foster Tree Service, where he did tree transplanting and had worked on Powell 3 at Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Mike loved life and never allowed obstacles to stop him. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, keeping up his 20 acres, going to auctions, telling stories and keeping up with his friends. Mike was a member of the Roadrunners wheelchair basketball team for 11 years and participated in the National Paralympic Games. He had been a member of AA for 46 years. Most importantly, Mike loved his kids and grandkids and spending time with his family.

Mike died at the age of 79 on Sunday, October 12, 2025. He was preceded in death by his parents; 2 great-grandchildren, Sawyer and Alder; siblings: Dennis Foster, Stephen Foster, Jim Foster, and Lynn Van Maaren; his nephew, Alan Foster; and his niece, Jillian Foster.

Mike is survived by his wife, Diann Foster of Waukee; his children: Michelle (Chuck) Nail of Pilot Point, TX, Stephanie (Charlie) Keller of Urbandale, Matt (Jaime) Foster of Earlham, and Jeremy Foster of Waukee; his 12 grandchildren: Cory, Eric, Garrett, Morgan, Daniel, Raina, Mia, Avrielle, Hannah, Miles, Isaiah, and Carson; his great-grandchildren: Deven, Alex, Millieanne, Willow, Archer, Everest, and Riley; and many nieces and nephews.