Gretchen Holbrook (Meyer) Foster

Born June 13, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, died on July 21, 2015, at her home in Okemos at the age of 80.  She was diagnosed with liver cancer in June of this year.  Gretchen was brilliant and beautiful, funny and witty, a talented potter and painter, a horsewoman and a college professor of English literature at Michigan State University. She loved horses and rode Dressage for many years at Rowe Stables under the tutelage of Jim and Sharon Rowe.  Additionally, she and her husband Rick, raised Lipizzan horses at their farm located in Laingsburg, Michigan.  She spent many hours in her gardens at their Okemos home creating beautiful flowerbeds throughout their property.  She co-authored a book entitled The Other Eighteenth Century: English Women of Letters 1660–1800. A voracious reader and theatergoer, she had total recall of everything she read or saw, retaining her wit and humor to the end.

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Rick; two children, Rob Foster (wife Ann Jaquith) and Martha Davis (husband John Davis); and five grandchildren, Emily, Matthew, Molly, Jake and Zach.

Funeral services will be held at Estes-Leadley Greater Lansing Chapel located at 325 W. Washtenaw St., Lansing, at 2 pm on Saturday, September 26 with a wake immediately following at the home of Rick and Gretchen.  Gretchen was a wonderful wife, mother, grandmother, teacher and friend and will be greatly missed.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be sent to Sparrow Hospice Services.

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5 Messages to “Gretchen Holbrook (Meyer) Foster

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Bob Meyer
August 2, 2015 at 11:45 am

Gretchen was my first cousin, the only child of my father’s brother. She and I were close over the years, and Barb and I will miss her. I attended her wedding in June of 1957, in Smokerise New Jersey.

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Joey Arbaugh
September 8, 2015 at 6:55 pm

So terribly to hear the sad news, Rick. Gretchen was always a favorite of mine and I’ll miss her great sense of humor among other things. I will always have fond memories of her.

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Elaine Fink
September 20, 2015 at 8:21 am

What wonderful neighbors you were at Newman road. Loved riding and playing tennis with Gretchen. She was so talented that I was always in awe of her. I know she will be missed by so many and my thoughts and prayers are with you, Rick, and all your family.

Elaine

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Lois Rosen and Robert Uphaus
September 21, 2015 at 2:46 pm

Dear Rick and Family,
We are so sorry to learn of Gretchen’s death. She was a lovely person and a valued contributor to The Other Eighteenth Century. Please accept our deepest sympathy on your loss.

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Juan & Olga
September 26, 2015 at 12:41 pm

Rick, Martha, Emily, & Family

Expressing deepest sympathy, and hoping you will all find comfort in knowing that Gretchen spread her caring, warmth, and love like a pebble which she cast into her pond of life that, in turn, flowed back in waves to her and everyone around her, knowing that we care and are near in thought today. (Phew! Gretchen, professor of English & Literature. would be impressed with this run on sentence.)

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