Obituary of Cora M. Foster

Cora Mae (Bakke) Foster, 78, of Iowa City, died peacefully in her home, surrounded by family, late on October 2nd, . She had moved to hospice care after a nearly 2-week hospitalization and surgery following a stroke. Prior to that, she had begun to slowly decline over the last few months. Amyloid angiopathy, a lethal brain condition, was diagnosed after her initial stroke nearly 5 years ago, from which she had had a remarkable and blessed recovery. Cora was born on July 12th, 1929, to Pastor Halvor and Inger (Maland) Bakke in McCallsburg, IA, where she attended school, graduating Valedictorian of her class. From the age of 12, she served as pianist in her father’s church. Cora attended Waldorf College for 1 year, then followed in her mother’s vocational footsteps and attended and completed nurse’s training at Fairview Hospital in Minneapolis. She worked as an RN for a few years, last in the role of evening supervisor before meeting Robert (Bob) Foster, a soon-to-be-graduating Luther Seminary student. They married on May 24th, 1958, then moved to Germany, where Bob studied and received his PhD in Theology. Three years and 2 children later, they returned to the US and resided in Decorah, IA, where they had two more children and Cora began her faithful partnership in ministry while Bob served on the faculty at Luther College and later, at Capital University in Columbus, OH; in parishes in Epping, ND and Duncumbe/Vincent IA; and as the U of I Campus Pastor in Iowa City. She was a member of the Norse Club, a pianist and former choir and Rebecca Circle member at Zion Lutheran Church, and organist at the Vincent, IA, parish. Cora was a selfless and loving servant, and expressed her love and faith through caring for her family and community, cooking, baking, entertaining and music. She also loved reading and the arts. She was preceded in death by her parents, her 2 brothers, Erling and Richard, her 2 half-brothers, and many dear friends. She is survived by her sister, Lois; her husband, Bob; and their four children, Stefan (and his wife, Sheri, and their 4 children, of Iowa City), Lynn (and her husband, Martin Javinsky, and their daughter, of Minneapolis), Lisa (of Iowa City), and Leslie Foster McCabe (and her husband, Alan, and their 5 children, of Decorah, IA). There will be a Memorial Service for Cora on Saturday, October 6th at 3 PM, at Zion Lutheran Church with Pastors Mark Pries and Jan Rippentrop officiating. There will be a period of visitation from 2-3 PM, and a reception after the service for family and friends at the church. Memorials may be given to NAMI of Iowa City, the Crisis Center, or Zion Lutheran Church. Blessed be her precious memory.