David Foner

David Isaac Foner

August 4, 1935 - January 3, 2025

David Isaac Foner, devoted husband, father, grandfather, and brother, passed away peacefully on January 3, 2025, at the age of 89. Born on August 4, 1935 in Douglas County, Minnesota to Julius Warren Foner and Irene Latisha Cummins, David's life was marked by his faith, his family, and friends.

David met Arlene Lois Crosby at a church meeting in Texas in 1958. They married soon after and began their life together in Stuttgart, Germany, where David was serving in the Army. They enjoyed living abroad and David loved telling stories and sharing pictures from that phase of their lives. They welcomed their first daughter, Sharon, while in Germany. After returning to the U.S. in 1960, they settled near David's family in Minnesota and had four more children, Lois, Darlene, Mark and Allen over the next 10 years. In 1968, they moved to Afton, which was their home until 2019, when they moved together to Ecumen Lakeview Commons. They celebrated their 64th anniversary in 2022 before Arlene's passing on April 4, 2023.

David took great pride in keeping their Afton home well tended. He worked hard to maintain the beautiful property and its orchards, and he always planted a large vegetable garden. He will be remembered for ice cream buckets full of fresh raspberries, popcorn for Sunday dinners, tins of peanut brittle, and being able to do almost anything (except tie a tie) with only his left hand.

His faith and meetings were the center of his life, and his Bible was always close at hand. In later years, it was clear that David loved the opportunities to connect with the communities of residents and caregivers at Ecumen and Harmony Gardens. He always had a warm greeting and a good natured eagerness to play games and socialize, making new friends wherever he went. He stayed on top of the activities calendar and particularly liked balloon volleyball.

Despite ongoing health issues, David was able to spend Christmas Day with his local family in Wayzata, MN, and enjoyed being with his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren for the holiday. The family is grateful to have had that time together so recently.

David is survived by his brothers Richard Lloyd (Myra) Foner and Vernon Leroy (Lorene) Foner, his children Lois (Gregg) Swope of Stillwater, MN, Darlene Christoph of Austin, TX, Mark (Teresa) Foner of Beavercreek, OR, Allen (Kristin) Foner of Wayzata, MN, eleven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, Julius and Irene Foner, his brother, Marvin Warren Foner, daughter Sharon Elizabeth Foner, and granddaughter Karly Elizabeth Wahlin.