Geoffrey Paul Foster

Geoffrey Paul Foster, 29, of Cloquet, died Sunday, December 19, 2010 in Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis. He was born in 1981 in Cannon Falls, the son of Paul and Sharon Foster. Geoff was a 1999 graduate of Cloquet High School. He attended Lake Superior College in the electronics and truck driving programs and Fond du Lac Tribal and Community College in the law enforcement program. He was a truck driver for Halvor Lines of Superior and a volunteer firefighter and first responder for the Cloquet Fire District. He was a member of the Arrowhead Radio Amateur Club, Northwoods United Methodist Church in Esko and was a ham radio operator with the call sign of KBØYHX. Geoff was also a Sky Warn severe weather spotter with the National Weather Service in Duluth. At the age of 11, Geoff was diagnosed with systemic lupus and throughout his life, bravely battled the many complications without complaint. He met life's challenges head-on and lived his life to the fullest. In May, Geoff received a kidney transplant which his body rejected in June and July. He contracted B-cell lymphoma at the end of October. Although his life was not long in years, he loved life and experienced and lived more fully than most people could in several lifetimes. The family extends their deepest appreciation to Dr. Robert Leff and staff and Dr. Diane Kolquist of Essentia Health for their care and support of Geoff through his illness. He was preceded in death by his grandfather, Fred Foster, cousin, Jody Theel and an infant cousin, Samuel Nicholas. A wonderful son, brother and friend, Geoff is survived by his parents, Paul and Sharon of Cloquet; brother, Jimmy Foster (Amanda Brown) of Eden Prairie; paternal grandmother, Anna Foster of Red Wing; maternal grandparents, Dale and Wanda Theel of Embarrass; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and very special friends. Funeral Services were held on Thursday, December 23, 2010 in Zion Lutheran Church, 1000 Washington Avenue, Cloquet. Interment was in Maple Grove Cemetery, Cloquet. Memorials are preferred.