Leah E. Foster, 97, died March 19, 2023, at Ridgecrest Health Center. The family will greet family and friends at Weerts Funeral Home on Friday, March 24, 2023 from 10 to 11 a.m. and a celebration of life service will be held following the visitation. Leah will be laid to rest at Davenport Memorial Park Cemetery.
Leah Eleanor Anderson was born November 9, 1925, to Howard and Versa Anderson in Washington, IA. She graduated from Crawfordsville H.S. and from the University of Iowa with a degree in Journalism. Leah married John Foster on December 27, 1947. They moved to Davenport in 1956.
Leah taught school for several years, but family responsibilities soon became her priority, first when son Craig was born and especially when daughter Gail was born. Gail was severely handicapped, and Leah and John gave her loving care at home until she was well her into her 30’s. By the time Gail moved to a residential facility, John’s health problems required much of Leah’s attention. When he died in 2003, she had been a primary caregiver for more than 50 years. Leah would say that it was not a path she would have chosen for her life, but not something she would change.
Leah and John were strong advocates for disabled persons in the Quad-Cities, as community resources were scarce when Gail was an infant. Their advocacy, and that of others in their situation, led to greater acceptance of people with special needs. The founding of the Handicapped Development Center in Davenport was, in part, a result of Leah and John’s efforts. They supported HDC extensively and benefitted from Gail’s participation in its programs and eventually in her care at the HDC Residential Center until her death in 2007.
After John’s passing, Leah reinvented herself. She traveled abroad, participated in many community activities, and joined book clubs. Leah served as a resident advocate for HDC and worked tirelessly on the annual nut sale fundraiser. She read extensively, and her daily perusal of the newspaper and completion of the crossword puzzle was halted only in her final year when macular degeneration took its toll.
During her lifetime, Leah hand quilted beautiful bedroom keepsakes for family and friends. She possessed exceptional writing skills, always highlighted by flawless penmanship. She was a long-time member of Faith United Methodist Church, and her faith was central to her life journey.
Leah is survived by son Craig (Nancy) Foster, Davenport; sister Nancy Johnson, Orlando, FL; and granddaughter Teresa (Alex) Miller, St. Louis. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband, sisters Mildred and Phyllis, daughter Gail and Gail’s infant twin sister Vail.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to Handicapped Development Center. Online memories can be shared via www.weertsfh.com
