Jeanne M. Foster

Jeanne M. Foster – a mother to three boys, a sister, a grandmother, a mentor, and a friend to many who found their way to Salida, Colorado – died November 22, 2021, surrounded by her loving companion of more than 30 years, Bill Newcom, and her sons, Tom and Rob. She was 82. Born in Chicago, Illinois, to Marie and Fred Loshbaugh, Jeanne lived life on her terms from the beginning to the end. She was fiercely independent, deeply believed in her strength, and built a successful business in the 1970s when it was difficult for women to get support, financial backing, or even get credit in their name. That did not stop Jeanne (not sure anything could); she persevered and went on to run multiple businesses while raising three boys on her own. Jeanne Foster, if you met her, was unforgettable and made an impact one way or another. Jeanne was active in national and local politics. She challenged the status quo, fought for the underdog, and had more courage than most. In 1978, Jeanne became the first-ever woman commodore for FibArk. She left an indelible mark and paved the way for future women commodores. She was happiest working in the garden, studying the civil war and participating in re-enactments, or behind the wheel of her car navigating her beloved Colorado mountains, following up on real estate leads, conducting land surveys, or ensuring her Strout Realty signs were still in place and standing tall. Orange tape, a tape measure, and ground stakes were always in her purse. Jeanne will be remembered for her unfailing work ethic, knowledge of what seemed to be everything, running errands around Salida wearing her signature sun bonnet, and the impact she made in Salida throughout her 51 years living in the same house in the same town. She will also be remembered as a loyal and tough-minded companion, a small business owner whose opinion carried weight, and a protective mother of three boys who went on to achieve their own success. She sincerely believed that "can't" meant you didn't want to and that we would only have what we could take care of in life. Jeanne is survived by her longtime companion, Bill Newcom; her two sons, Tom and Rob; her daughter-in-law, Kim; her sister Susan; her nieces Lynne and Sheri; her 5 grandchildren, Ashlyn, Zachary, Shirley Ann, Amanda Jo, and LaRen; and many cousins. Family and friends will celebrate her beautiful life with an intimate graveside ceremony at Fairview Cemetery on Saturday, November 27. She will be laid to rest next to her cherished mother, Marie. Instead of flowers, the family is requesting that memorial contributions be made to FibArk by way of volunteering your time to help make the festival a success. Send an email to fibark.colorado@gmail.com. The family thanks Lewis & Glenn Funeral Home for handling the arrangements.

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