William John Foster

TRAVERSE CITY — William "Jack" John Foster, 84, of Traverse City, passed away peacefully at Bortz Health Care on Jan. 7, 2011. Jack was born Oct. 4, 1926, in Orillia, Ontario, Canada, to the late William Arthur and Hannah Ethel (Bradley) Foster.He married Lola "Nicky" Doreen Nixon on Aug. 2, 1946, in Ferndale. They met in the Ferndale High School orchestra, and their love of music and each other grew stronger every year. Together they raised four wonderful children.Jack honorably served our country in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his time in the service he attended Eastern Michigan University, earning a degree in Music Education. He later furthered his education by earning his master's in Music Education from Wayne State University. Music was extremely important in Jack's life. He conducted many prize-winning concert bands in Clawson. Jack enjoyed spending time transcribing orchestral music for the concert band as Clawson High School Band Director, and during his one-year service as director of the Birmingham Community Band. He was thrilled when his grandson, Patrick Conaton, followed in his footsteps and became a public school band director. Jack was a member of the Central United Methodist Church, MSBOA, Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia and the Retired Teachers Association of Grand Traverse. Since retiring to Traverse City Jack added volunteering, woodworking and having more time to spend with his family to his list of favorite things to do.Surviving Jack are his wife, Lola; children, Kathleen Foster, Deborah (Lawrence) Lehmann, James (Alice) Foster and Patricia (Patrick) Conaton; grandchildren, Heather (Matt), Timothy, Heather (Tom), John, Patrick (Casey), James, Stephanie and Elyse; four great-grandchildren; two nephews; several cousins; and many special friends and former students.Jack was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Anne Layne.A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m., with a visitation held one hour prior, at Central United Methodist Church on Saturday, Jan. 15, 2011. Interment will take place at the Columbarium at Central United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be directed to the Salvation Army or the Birmingham Community Band. Please sign Jack's online guestbook at www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com. The family is being served by the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home.

William John Foster

January 7, 2011