Jodie Ann Foster

Age 60, died Wednesday, January 27, 2020 at Sparrow Hospital. She was born October 25, 1960 at Sparrow Hospital in Lansing, MI to Donald and Bonnie (Schuitema) Foster. Born with spina bifida she was not expected to live long enough to go home.

However, she was blessed to have a wonderful team of doctors and surgeons who helped her make it home. Thanks to their knowledge and cutting edge surgeries she went on to live 60 years. Jodie faced multiple surgeries throughout her first 12 years but never complained. Doctors and nurses would comment about her smile and upbeat personality. As she got older and had more surgeries including bilateral amputations below the knees, she still kept her pleasant attitude to what life tossed at her. She had great empathy for veterans and others who lost limbs saying that she felt bad for them since she never knew the freedom of walking and running, while they had previously been able-bodied.

Ingham county schools in the 1960's and early 1970's sent children with physical disabilities to Walnut Street Elementary School, Dwight Rich Junior High and Harry Hill High School. In the mid 70's school districts started mainstreaming these children into their local schools. Jodie's parents wanted her to be in the Williamston schools along with her siblings. The school district fought to prevent it for various issues, but Jodie's mom (Bonnie) fought for the legal right for her to go. Bonnie was so determined that when the school district refused to make transportation available, Bonnie pushed Jodie's wheelchair to and from school everyday for three years. Jodie was able to graduate from WHS like her siblings thanks to her mom.

Jodie is survived by her siblings Jamie Foster of Williamston, Jeffrey (Debbie) Foster of Leslie, Julie Foster of Williamston, Jonathan (Michele) Foster of Mason, her aunt Sally (Schuutema) Williams of Grand Ledge and beloved dog Lilly. She was preceded in death by her father Donald Foster, mother Bonnie Foster, aunts Shirley Schuitema and Ann (Foster) Slezak.

No services will be held at this time.

Contributions in memory of Jodie may be made to:

Michigan Anti-Cruelty Society

13569 Joseph Campau Street

Detroit, MI 48212

The family would like to thank Sparrow’s ICU team for their incredible care and compassion.