Wanda L. Foster

It is with the great sorrow that the family members of Wanda L Foster announce that she passed away peacefully on the night of May 24, 2023, in her home, surrounded by those who loved her the most.

Wanda Louise Helt Foster was the daughter of Roy Lawerence Helt and Fidelia Eliane Hughes Helt. She was born October 15, 1935 in Raymore, MO, and she was raised on her family farm, 5 miles south of Peculiar. Wanda’s first seven years of education were at the Pleasant Ridge one-room school house. She attended 8^th grade and high school in Peculiar, MO, and she graduated high school in the spring of 1953. Wanda met her future husband, John M Foster, on a blind date, set up by friends on May 26, 1954. On December 14, 1956, they were married at the First Baptist Church in Peculiar, MO by Pastor Joe Brewster.

Wanda and John started their married life with a wealth of love and hope. They moved into a rented apartment in Harrisonville. John worked in the local construction industry, and Wanda worked at the R. B. Jones Insurance Company in downtown Kansas City. John and Wanda welcomed the blessing of their first daughter, Robin, on October 8, 1958, and on October 22, 1960, they welcomed their second daughter, Renee. With their daughters, Wanda and John became active at the Harrisonville First Baptist Church.

In January of 1962, John and Wanda started the John Foster Construction Company. John built houses, commercial and industrial facilities. For an astounding 60 years, Wanda managed the office. Wanda kept the books in order, paid the employees and subcontractors, filed the taxes, answered countless phone calls, and helped with interior designs for the houses they built.

Wanda was active in the community of Harrisonville. She was a member of the Beta Sigma Phi social society. In 1976 and 1977, Wanda was their chair of the Harrisonville Community Betterment Council, and in 1976 she received the Governor’s Leadership Award. Wanda and John also had many opportunities to travel and visit around the world through their involvement in Rotary International. They shared many great adventures on every inhabited continent.

When her daughters were grown and married, Wanda entered the grandmother phase of her life with great enthusiasm. Her grandchildren, Joseph, Emily, and Ethan, were born in 1988, 1989, and 1990, respectively. Wanda loved to spend time with her grandchildren, and she worked hard to fill their childhoods with precious memories.

Wanda will be remembered most for her tremendous dedication to her family and for the unending kindness that she showed to everyone she knew. It didn’t matter how busy she was. She was never too busy to be kind. She never let a sick neighbor or friend go hungry. She distributed hundreds of pots her famous chicken and rice soup to members of her community over a span of nearly 70 years. She never walked past someone begging on the streets without stopping to make a generous donation. She was always happy to take time out of her day to drive a friend or relative to a doctor’s appointment. When families were bereaved by the loss of a loved one, Wanda would make sure that a lovely funeral dinner was prepared. Wanda never asked for anything in return for her gifts and her time – and she never wanted anything in return. The help she gave to others filled her life with meaning and love.

Wanda is survived by her husband, John Foster, her brother, Roy Helt, her daughters, Robin Dimmitt and Renee Endicott and their husbands Kim Dimmitt and Daniel Endicott, her grandsons, Joseph and Ethan Endicott, her granddaughter, Emily Wilkinson and Emily’s husband Kevin Wilkinson, and her great-grandchildren, Conor and Aubrey Endicott, who were her greatest caused for joy an excitement in her final years. Wanda is also survived by numerous in-laws, nieces and nephews, great nieces and great nephews, who all loved and admired her.

We thank God for the time that we had with her, and we will carry her memory in our hearts.

Funeral Service will be 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, 2023 at First Baptist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Family will receive friends Wednesday, May 31, 2023 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church, Harrisonville, Missouri.

Memorial contributions may be made to Harrisonville Public School's Foundation or to St. Croix Hospice and sent in care of Dickey Funeral Home, PO Box 432, Harrisonville, Missouri 64701.