Charles "Charlie" Edward Foster

Charles “Charlie” Edward Foster, 85, of Newton died on Friday, September 18, 2026, at MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. A funeral service will be held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, September 24, 2026, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home and Crematory. The family will greet friends from 10:00 a.m. until the time of service at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Kellogg United Methodist Church or the Kellogg Historical Society may be left at the funeral home.

Charlie, the son of Earl Clyde and Frances Esther (Green) Foster, was born on January 14, 1941, in Iowa City, Iowa.  He grew up in Grinnell and graduated from Grinnell High School.  Charlie served his country in the U.S. Navy.  On August 14, 1965, Charlie was united in marriage with Judith Purvis in Kellogg.  They first lived in Grinnell where Charlie worked for the city until 1969, when they moved to Newton.  Shortly after, Charlie would begin working for the Maytag Company. He worked in the Dryer division for 30 years, retiring on June 1, 2000.  Following Judy’s death in 1999, Charlie was married to Margaret Ostrander Repp on April 27, 2019, in Kellogg. 

Charlie loved sports and was a huge Iowa Hawkeye fan.  He also enjoyed playing cards, dominoes, and fishing.  He was an avid bowler for many years.

Charlie is survived by his sister-in-law, Denise Sedlock of Grinnell; his many nieces and nephews and their families; Margaret’s three children and their families; and special friends, Suzanne and Bob Johnson of Monroe.  He was preceded in death by his parents; 1st wife, Judith in 1999; 2nd wife, Margaret in 2025; his siblings, Virgil Foster, Richard Foster, Larry Foster, Beulah Tegeler, and Dorothy Berry; and his parent in-laws, Floyd and Maxine Purvis.

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