Barbara Davis Foster Moore

Barbara J. (Fuerstenau) Foster Davis Moore

Barbara Foster of St. Johns, MI passed away Wednesday July 24, 2013. She was born on April 17, 1928 to Clarence H. and Beatrice (Bisbing) Fuerstenau at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing. During her childhood, she grew to become an accomplished pianist and an avid 4-H member. Her graduation from DeWitt High School in 1945 led her to graduate from Michigan State Short Course and Lansing Secretarial School.

Barb married Duane Davis in 1948, moved to Bingham Township, and raised four children. She maintained her piano—her lifelong passion and talent—and realized her dream to become a church organist for Bingham EUB and St. Johns First Congregational; she maintained her organist position at St. Johns First United Methodist Church for a strong twenty-two years of worship and music. She was professionally trained in organ by celebrated organist Dr. Arnold of Michigan State University. She went on to become a member of the American Guild of Organists.

Before her marriage, Barb worked at Michigan State University in a secretarial position. Afterwards, she worked for the St. Johns Federal Land Bank. When her children were older, she went back to be a Public School country music teacher and occasionally taught private piano lessons. Barbara was the Bingham Township Clerk for many years. She also worked for the Register of Deeds Office. She eventually went back to the Federal Land Bank where she retired.

Her activism in the Clinton County 4-H community was incredibly noteworthy. She was the co-leader of the Stony Creek 4-H club and a member of the Clinton County 4-H Service Club.

In 1983, Barb married Ed Foster and moved to Pompeii to live in a sunny little farmhouse. The couple lived a joyful, happy existence, filling their days with grandchildren and the “farm life.” They often vacationed in Lakeland, FL—where the Tigers train—and took in a few nights at the ballpark. After Ed’s death, she married Kenneth Moore of St. Johns in 1995. He precedes her in death.

Later in Barb’s life, she filled each day with music—attending concerts at Michigan State University with friends, providing accompaniment for high school students at solo and ensemble contests, and was occasionally the featured pianist at Morning Musical. Her travels were extensive—she saw the deserts and pyramids of Egypt from the back of a camel, the Jordan River of Israel, the melting glaciers of Alaska, the Caribbean from the deck of a cruise boat, and the majestic mountains of Glacier National Park. She even tried her luck in Vegas!

Barb leaves her four surviving children: Cindy (Larry) Kindel of St. Johns, Diane (Robert) DeFauw of Ann Arbor, Brian (Mary) Davis of Savage, MN, Mary (Jerry) Krupp of New Castle, IN; adored grandchildren: Gregory Kindel, Grant (Allison) Kindel, Megan (Phil Gouel,) DeFauw, Nicole DeFauw, Matthew DeFauw, Martha Davis, Allison Krupp, and John Krupp; two great grandchildren: Aiden Kindel and Makenzie Kindel; sister Margaret (Donald) Nelson, Brother Rev. William (Patricia) Fuerstenau; sister-in-law Alma Davis; a plethora of special cousins, nieces, and nephews.

Barbara was a long time member of First United Methodist Church and United Methodist Women. Services will be held at First United Methodist Church, 200 E. State St. St. Johns, Michigan, Monday July 29th at 11:00 with burial taking place at 2:30 at Collier Cemetery in Washington Twp. Visitation will be at Osgood Funeral Home, 104 E. Cass St. St. Johns, on Sunday July 28th from 2:00 – 8:00. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to First United Methodist Church or Grace Haven Assisted Living, where she lived comfortably the past four and half years.