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Joel Albert Foster, age 75, of River Falls, WI, passed away with grace and dignity in his home on June 8, 2025. Born on April 11, 1950, he was the son of James J. and Shirley (Yarns) Foster, and was named after his great, great, grandfather, the first pioneer settler of River Falls.
Joel was born at City Hospital in River Falls and attended Campus School and Greenwood Elementary. He moved with his family to St. Paul, MN in 1961 and graduated from high school there. From an early age, he was fascinated by electricity which led him to pursue an associate’s degree from Northwestern Electronics Institute. In 1976 he moved to Pueblo, CO, where he lived for 30 years. He returned to River Falls in 2006, where he reconnected with old friends, made many new friends, and spent time with his family. After his return to River Falls, Joel joined The Church of Latter-Day Saints and found comfort in the promise of its teachings.
Joel was surrounded by family and friends during his childhood in River Falls, and spent many happy hours working and playing hard at the Hartland Lubich farm, adventuring with the Scouts, and often finding himself in inexplicable (to him) trouble. Joel was insatiably curious and wanted to know how everything worked. Especially electricity. When he was young, he would create “inventions” that he would get his little brother to plug in at an outdoor outlet down the street (out of Mother’s view). The sparks would fly, the fuse would blow, and the boys would race home.
While living in Colorado, Joel carved out a career as an electronics technician, specializing in the repair of electronic games. He thrived on acquiring and restoring older treasures and eventually opened an antique store in Pueblo, which he named “Fostoria’s.” Joel had many cousins in Colorado and he enjoyed spending time with his aunt and all the Lombard family.
Joel was known as the family’s “go-to” guy for fixing anything that needed repairing. He had a knack for guiding loved ones over the phone when something broke, and if that was unsuccessful, he would grab his bag of tools and show up at the front door.
We will miss Joel’s gentle smile and kind eyes, and his distinct laughter at some tale that he was telling will linger in our ears. Telling our stories is as good a way as we have to outwit death, and Joel’s story lives on through us. We are better for having had him in our lives.
Joel is preceded in death by his parents, James J. and Shirley Y. Foster, and his sister, Vicki Jo Foster. Joel is survived by his aunt, Idella Lombard; sister, Mary Foster (Nick Jadinak); brother, Michael Foster (Florence); brother-in-law, Ron Fullmer; nieces and nephews, Jason Foster (Juliette Linse), David Foster, Karen Sampson (Jonathan), Rachel Sixberry (David Pena), Ryan Fullmer, Kim Gilbert (Shawn); and fourteen much-loved great-nephews and great-nieces. The family extends special thanks to David Pena for overnight care for the last 6 weeks of Joel’s life, and to Lakeview Hospice nurse Whitney Johnson and social worker Alison Kalkhoff for their compassionate care.
A time to celebrate Joel’s life was held on Monday, June 23, 2025, at Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services in River Falls. With the memorial service at 2:00 PM, visitation started at 1:00 PM. Private family internment took place at Martell Methodist Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of the donor’s choice.
Arrangements are with Bakken-Young Funeral & Cremation Services.
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