A.J. (JACK) FOSTER

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A.J. (JACK) FOSTER May 19, 1925 - June 29, 2008 Passed away at St. Boniface Hospital Missed and always remembered by his wife of 38 years, Leona and children, Shirley (Lloyd), Judy (Gil), Robert and Murray (Anita); by his eight grandchildren and nine great-grand-children; his aunt Margaret Baker (of Rye, England); cousins, Brian Hughes (Margaret) and Denny Edwards (Jenny) (of London, England), other relatives and many friends. He was predeceased by parents, Lily and John Foster and daughter-in-law Colleen Cowan. The family originated from Liverpool and area in England. Jack was born at Chicoutimi, Quebec; during his school years the family lived in Alma, Quebec. His father was an engineer and worked on dams in Quebec after serving on steamships and sailing the world. Both of his grandfathers were sea captains who navigated the seven seas. Jack earned his degree from the Sir George Williams University. As an engineer he oversaw design work and construction at many pulp and paper mills. He was employed in Bangladesh and Iran, supervising the construction of new mills there. In Canada he worked in Quebec, Manitoba, British Columbia and Ontario. His last posting was in Fort Frances. Flying was Jack's passion since gaining his pilot's license while at university. He was a member of the Lyncrest Flying Club and remained a lifelong avid flyer. He was planning to fly his Cessna the very weekend of his death. He loved wildlife, was a founding member of the Manitoba Wildlife Rehabilitation Organization, and belonged to many naturalist organizations, and to the railway, air and marine museums. During the winter he made exact replicas of ships he had seen in Quebec; he had not quite finished a model of The Graham Bell, a ship that was beached in Churchill, MB. Jack enjoyed traveling with Leona to many countries in the Middle East and Europe. They also traveled across Canada to all the provinces, photographing extensively. Jack followed his heart into many pursuits, leading to a lifetime of adventures. Jack's strong character was evident all his life, in his ability to be decisive and to stand by his decisions even in times of difficulty. He was an excellent father to his children and grandchildren, supporting them in many ways. He was caring and loyal to his family and friends, standing by them in times of need. Above all else, Jack cherished his wife Leona, feeling their meeting was written in the stars, and they were destined to be together. When once you have tasted flight you will always walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward: for there you have been and there you will always be . Any donations may be made to the St. Boniface Hospital Research Foundation, D1003-409 Tache Ave., Winnipeg, MB R2H 9Z9.

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As published in Winnipeg Free Press on Jul 05, 2008