Foster, Derrold 'Pat'

Derrold “Pat” Foster, 87, of Iowa City, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, Dec. 1, 2013, following a courageous battle with cancer. A Memorial Service to celebrate Pat's life will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 6, at Lensing Funeral Home, 605 Kirkwood Ave., Iowa City, where the family will greet friends from noon until service time.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be directed to The University of Iowa Athletic Scholarship Fund or to Iowa City Hospice.

Pat was born May 26, 1926, in Centerdale, Iowa, the son of LaMar and Mary (Thomason) Foster. He was raised in West Branch and was a 1944 graduate of West Branch High School. Following high school, Pat proudly served in The United States Army and after being honorably discharged, he returned to Iowa City, where he went on to earn his B.A. degree. During his time at the U of I, Pat also played fullback and defensive end for the Hawkeyes from 1945-46. Following college, Pat went to work for Maytag in Newton and then moved back to Iowa City, where he owned and operated Foster Maytag for 55 years.

Pat married Doris Marchael on May 29, 2003, whom he met in the early 1980s.

Pat was a proud and very active member of the Iowa City community and an avid Hawkeye fan! He was a longtime member of the Iowa City Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Iowa City Airport Commission, past president and charter member of the Johnson County I-Club and former president of the National I-Club. He also was a member of the University of Iowa Presidents Club and the Lettermens Club. Pat was named Hawk of the Year and in 2006 was selected as an honorary captain for the U of I Hawkeye Football team.

Survivors include his wife, Doris Marchael of Iowa City; three children, Jim Foster (Susie) of Davenport, Nancy Foster (Daryl Sawin) and Susan Foster, both of Iowa City; three stepchildren, Tom Marchael of Kansas City, Mo., Paul Marchael (Deb) of Austin, Texas and Erik Marchael (Cheri) of Iowa City; four grandchildren, Nile, Palmer, Lisa and Jill (Dave); three stepgrandchildren, Andrew (Annie), Melynda (Wade) and Gunnar; three sisters, Audrey Rex (Dick) of West Branch, Doris Jean Hagen of San Antonio, Texas and Mary J. Turnbull (Buck) of Des Moines; and his former wife, Marian Foster.

Pat was preceded in death by his parents, and a brother, LaMar Foster Jr.

Online condolences may be left for the family at www.lensingfuneral.com.

Published Dec. 3, 2013 in The Gazette