Foster Duane Wendell

Foster Duane Wendell, also known as Pappy by his grandchildren and Grumpy by his friends, passed away January 10, 2021 in Denver, Colorado. Foster, the second son of Howard Wendell (actor) and Harriet Morley Wendell (housewife/artist) was born in Saginaw, Michigan in 1941 and spent his youth in Spring Valley, New York and his teen years in the Pacific Palisades, CA. Foster graduated from University High in 1959.. Foster enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1959 and was stationed in various places to include Osan, South Korea, Okinawa, Japan, and he did a tour of duty in Vietnam in 1969. After Vietnam, Foster got his Associates Degree in Science/Automotive and Diesel Technology at National Technical School where he was Student Body President and Valedictorian. After graduation he became an auto mechanic in Los Angeles, CA until 1977 when he then joined the U.S. Navy focusing on Aviation Support Equipment and Hydraulics. Foster served on both the USS Tripoli and the USS Coral Sea and he spent the majority of his USN time serving in the Asia Pacific area of operations to include being stationed in Guam. Foster retired from the USN out of Naval Air Station Moffett Field in Sunnyvale, CA in 1989 as a Petty Officer First Class and settled in Colorado. Foster had a number of varied hobbies to include reading anything and everything; watching British comedies and detective series; building car models; collecting art, watches, and coins; shooting his guns; and traveling the world to include a number of countries within East Asia, Southeast Asia, and Europe. Foster loved working out at the gym and lifting weights and he volunteered his time to help out his local gym. Foster loved his family very much and his whole life was dedicated to taking care of them. Foster has two children, Shannon and Travis. Through Travis and his wife Telia, Foster has two grandchildren, Collin and Emme who he especially loved. His grandchildren brought a lot of joy to his life and he shared a special bond with them. Foster leaves behind – Shannon and her husband Darren; Travis, Telia, Collin and Emme; his brothers Howard and David; his sister Nadine; numerous nieces and nephews; and of course his friends. He was well-loved by many and he will be missed. Don’t think of him as gone away his journey’s just begun, life holds so many facets this earth is only one. Just think of him as resting from the sorrows and the tears in a place of warmth and comfort where there are no days and years. Think how he must be wishing that we could know today how nothing but our sadness can really pass away. And think of him as living in the hearts of those he touched… for nothing loved is ever lost and he was loved so much.