Judith "Judee" Foster

Judith E. Foster, 78, of Winona, MN passed away Tuesday December 12, 2023.

There is no person that is loved more by their family than Judee.  Her family and friends always knew her listening ear and open heart were a place to go, no matter the reason.  She was a woman extraordinaire and love was always on the top of the list for her:

husband, Jerry Foster for 59 years 

                 daughter, Amber Foster and terrific husband Haitham 

                                   granddaughters, Nora and Layla 

                             son, Ren Foster-and phenomenal daughter in-law Sara

          wonderful parents, Howard A. Matzke and Grace L. Matzke

                           brother, Charles Matzke and wonderful wife Jan

      sister, Ludy Oliver and fantastic husband Jeff 

For all who knew her, she was a gift and we were immeasurably lucky to have had her in our lives.

                                                                                                                           At 16, Judee, from Kansas City, met Jerry at Winona Senior High School when she was in Winona for just one quarter while her parents were overseas.  Their romance began with a date to the WSH Homecoming Dance at Jefferson School in 1962.  It took a little courage, but he asked her to go one hour before the game. Wearing his football gear he rushed home to change clothes, found he had no key and had to crawl thru the coal chute to get in.  Racing back, he found her standing on the steps wearing a brown dress and long flowing orange scarf, she took his breath away.  Later, she returned to KC with her parents.  A long distance romance then began.  HIs parents lent him their only family car and he drove thousands of miles back and forth to KC visiting his love.  It was three days before turning 17 that Judee waited late into the night for him to arrive in Kansas City with a little diamond they had picked out from Stager Jewelers. He saved his lunch money, three dollars a week, for over a year to buy the ring she would then wear for the next 59 years.

Judee’s father said, “No wedding until Jerry had one year of college”.  They were married at 19.

Judee worked at Social Security through those college years.  Upon graduation, they embarked on new adventures.  Together, they were an unstoppable team.  Growing into a family with the birth of their children and starting their family business. Judee also volunteered more than eight hours every day to the school district Project Science program for many years. She was instrumental in helping develop an award winning science research paper/project program.  She loved the kids and the kids flourished in the program with her help.

Judee was a well of creativity.  When deciding to paint the living room, she hand painted the walls in swirls of different shades of blues and greens.  Sitting amidst river decor, with a fountain gurgling in the background, you feel like you are surrounded by water.  She was a gourmet cook and a beautiful seamstress, sewing her own wedding dress and later Amber’s prom dress.  Judee also loved to dance.  She was a young ballerina in New York and later she and Jerry danced the weekends away to their own choreographed rock and roll style dance.  They were often mistaken for dance instructors and joyfully danced to many bands.  She was always very graceful.

Judee and Jerry through all their fabulous years of marriage never had an argument.  Unbelievably, not even one.  That is the gentle, kind, easy going, caring and wonderful person she was.  She accepted everyone unconditionally.  She loved with her whole heart.  

She also loved critters. Many dogs and cats shared her love.  She fondly remembered the beauty and animals from her world travels. When living in Africa, she even had a pet monkey!  If you wish to remember Judee, do so through a donation to the Winona County Humane Society.  A celebration of Life will be held at Hoff Funeral Home on January 20th from 11:00a.m. to 2:00p.m.  There will be a short service followed by a time of sharing (perhaps bring a story to tell), live music and of course, ice cream.