Larry L. Foster's Obituary
Larry Lynn Foster, age 85 died peacefully at home on Sunday, May 7, 2023. He was born December 24, 1937 to John and Bertha (Deckard) Foster in Lansing, MI. He graduated from Lansing Sexton High School in 1956. Larry was inducted into the Sexton High School Athletic Hall of Fame and the Greater Lansing Area Sports Hall of Fame for his outstanding records as a baseball pitcher. He played baseball for Michigan State University for 2 years before signing a professional contract with the Detroit Tigers followed by a 7-year career in professional baseball. Off-season he pursued higher education at Michigan State University where he earned a bachelor’s and master’s degree before entering the Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago and attaining a Master of Divinity degree. He was ordained as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church followed by pastorates at Grace Lutheran, Lansing and Lebanon Lutheran, Whitehall in Michigan. He earned a doctorate degree of Ministry from Western Theological Seminary along with years of study with Dr. Edwin Friedman and Murray Bowen, family systems professionals. Larry was also a certified marriage and family therapist and pastoral counselor. Until his death he continued consultations, counseling, conversations and presentations in his fields of study.
He also served in the U.S. Army reserve. During the Berlin Crisis he was called to be combat ready and sent to Fort Lewis, WA where he met his “first and only wife”, Virginia “Ginny” Lee who was in her senior year at Pacific Lutheran University. They were married Oct. 6, 1962 in Ferndale, WA. In their 60+ years together, they cherished their time with the gifts of great family, friends, and co-workers. After 24 years of parish life he began a 30 year effort with clergy leadership, leading seminars and consultations across the country, including most recently the ELCA Systems Academy, a comprehensive application of reflective thinking and learning. This work continues.
Larry was a life long learner, always questioning and reflecting on possibilities and how to be of service to his family, community and church. He cherished the mentors, leaders and colleagues of his work wherever it was. He was a generous and gentle man who deeply appreciated the outdoors, planting gardens, having fun and being playful. He was a reader and a reflective writer, a man of many thoughts and ideas. He was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, uncle and cousin. He is survived by his wife, Ginny Foster, two sons, Thomas and Mitchell (Kristin) Foster, grandchildren Max, Finn, and Evah, and numerous cousins, nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Shirle Genson and Mary Rowley.
A Service of Remembrance will be held at 12:00 pm on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at Trinity Lutheran Church, 5631 W. Stony Lake Rd., New Era, MI 49446 with visitation one hour prior. Committal in the church cemetery and a luncheon will follow. A visitation with the family will also be held from 4-7 pm on Friday, May 12, 2023 at the Sytsema Chapel of Sytsema Funeral & Cremation Services, 737 E. Apple Ave, Muskegon MI 49442. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions in Larry’s honor can be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church (above).
The Service of Remembrance will also be live-streamed on the Facebook page, “Trinity New Era”, https://m.facebook.com/tlcnewera
What’s your fondest memory of Larry?
What’s a lesson you learned from Larry?
Share a story where Larry's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Larry you’ll never forget.
How did Larry make you smile?
