Max W. Foster, 83 of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, son of the late Otress E. and Elda L. (Marchant) Foster, was born March 5, 1942, in Elizabeth, Arkansas, the second of four children. He died October 15, 2025, in his home surrounded by his family.
Max graduated from Viola High School in Viola, Arkansas, in 1960 and then held a wide variety of jobs which ranged from working the harvest on wheat farms in St. John, Kansas, to working at a glass company in Kansas City, Kansas. His big break came when he was hired into Armco Steel in Kansas City, Missouri, where he retired after 31 years of service. Max was a US Army Veteran having served as a shooting instructor during his years of service from 1964-1966. He was a member of the Large Bore Shooting Team while in the army where he won several trophies for his shooting excellence.
He was an avid hunter and fisherman as a child-a passion which he carried into adulthood with his greatest catch being his wife, Rose M. (Shrable) Foster who he married on March 14, 1967, in Elizabeth, Arkansas. They made their home in Kansas City, Missouri and later moved to Excelsior Springs where they had a small farm raising cattle and crops over their years there. Max was a hard worker and modeled an amazing work ethic to his and Rose’s three children, Melissa, Kimberly and Michael. Max could fix anything that broke or could engineer a workaround that got the job done.
Max is survived by: his wife, Rose; two daughters, Melissa (Scott) Hermreck of Elkhorn, Nebraska, and Kimberly Foster of Yardley, Pennsylvania; son, Michael (Tiffany) Foster of Kansas City, Missouri; 7 grandchildren: Chase Hermreck, Ethan Hermreck, Natalie Hermreck, Tyler Hermreck, Christopher Foster, Chloe Foster, and Avery Foster; three sisters: Barbara and the late Bob Dover of Excelsior Springs, Missouri, Kae and the late Milton Hatcher of Nixa, Missouri, and Sue Newberry (Don) of Viola, Arkansas; as well as several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers-in-law, Milton Hatcher and Robert Dover, and niece, Michelle Lancaster.
Max successfully beat colon cancer in 2013, but succumbed to lung cancer in 2025.
In lieu of flowers, the family would suggest donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. They can be left at or mailed to Thurman Funeral Home, 507 East Main Street-P.O. Box 190, Richmond, MO 64085.
Visitation with funeral services will be held on Monday, October 20, 2025, at Thurman Funeral Home in Richmond, with visitation beginning at 10:00 A.M., with services to follow at 11:00 A.M. Burial will be in the Missouri State Veterans Cemetery, Higginsville. Military Honors provided by United States Army and Ray County Veterans. Please remember to share your memories of Max with the family by visiting www.thurmanfuneralhome.com.
Source: KMZU, The Farm
