Planting a memorial tree for thier Father/Husband.

Uncle Bob was never technically my uncle, but so much of who I am traces back to him. He was disciplined, especially about fishing, but that never got in the way of a good time, and Aunt Pats was the life of the party right alongside him.

He taught me the beautiful things in life come from working for them, whether that meant mastering the art of tying a fly and knowing the pattern by heart, or being a true gentleman. When things didn’t go right, he found the bright side without fail. If I lost a fish at the bank, his answer was always the same: “well, now you know he’s still out there”. We let most fish go anyway, so that one just got to go tell the story same as we did.

Some of my favorite memories are from the bar at Rockwell Springs after a day on the water, going over every fish we caught and every one that got away. Fly shops and guides all over the country knew him by name, a reputation that only comes from decades of being that good to people.

He taught my wife Jennifer to love fly fishing, same as he taught me, and it was his love of nature that eventually led us out to Wyoming, where we’ve built a life at the base of the Bighorn Mountains.

There is a quote at Rockwell that says it better than I could: “I come here often to find myself, it is so easy to get lost in the world”. That’s what he gave me every time I stand at the edge of good water. I still have my favorite dry fly box, every fly tied by him or me, and every time I open it I think of him and the whole Foster family.

Uncle Bob taught my dad to fly fish, then my mom, then me, then my wife. He gave every one of us more than a hobby, a piece of how he saw the world, and we get to keep that forever.

To Aunt Pats, Jeff, Stephen and Elise, Miranda and Mia, and the entire Foster Family, thank you for sharing him with me for as long as I can remember. I got to have an uncle most people only dream of, and I’ll carry that for the rest of my life.

Tight lines, Uncle Bob.

Bradley & Jennifer Voreis

Bob Foster Saying

Trout will come and go, but it is the lasting memory of the day on the stream that will endure.

Richard Voreis Saying

It is the lasting memory of Bob Foster that will endure!

Poem for Bob Foster

A grand person,

A perfectionist angler,

A tier of fine fly-fishing flies,

A fighter for stream conservation, 

A lover of good fishing books,

And dry martinis.

I knew Bob mostly from working alongside him during the many times he spent sharing his expertise and experience to introduce others to outdoor activities. But mostly - what a gentleman! The world would be much better off with more Bob Fosters, he will be sorely missed.

I have known Bob Foster for many years through our mutual involvement with Trout Unlimited. Bob was an excellent fly tier, fly caster and angler. He was a kind & devoted husband that worked tirelessly as a caretaker for his beloved wife Pat. The world is a lesser place his passage . 
Rodney Tumlin
Chairman, GATU

It is such a shock for us and all who knew Bob that he is no longer with us.  
I have known Bob for 61 years when we were in the same Sales Training Class at Kawneer.  I’ve known him much longer than my wife Kathryn and from the time we met he will be a lasting memory for me based on this business relationship as well as the long, lasting and close friendship.  
In many ways he was my hero outside of business because he taught me, my wife and our son how to fly-fish!  Additionally, he taught me to enjoy dry martinis after a day of fishing for trout or almost anything else.
We feel very fortunate that we have been able to maintain our friendship with Bob and Pats during our 48 years of marriage.  We were able to spend quality time together at the Rockwell Springs Trout Fishing Club as well as fly-fishing around the U.S.  Whatever the occasion, spending time together with them was a special time for us.
When we reflect back on Bob it is clear everyone liked and respected him.  He was a role model for what a person should be in life.  He was always so personable, interesting, positive and fun to talk to and be around.  Bob was a great fly-fisherman as well as an outstanding fly-tyer and presented his fly-fishing casts better than anyone! He had such a great sense of humor and quick wit and told the same jokes multiple of times.  Bob was universally loved by everyone who met him, like a Golden Retriever puppy.
Bob has left us, but he will not be forgotten.  He will be remembered as caring, fun, interesting, talented and most of all as a role model friend.  He will be missed and he will stay in our memory and our hearts forever.  He made a lasting impact on his friends as he lived his life.  We are so appreciative we met him and we are so appreciative we have stayed in contact over the many years even though in recent years we were separated by hundreds of miles.
Our deepest sympathy goes out to Pats and the Foster family in this time of sadness.  
Kathryn &  Richard

Bob was a gentleman, friend, and mentor to me and many others through his volunteer activities in Trout Unlimited. In his later years when he was caring for Pat, I often thought about the significance of her favorite two words: “Bob said”. When she knit together stories for me using only those words, voice modulation, and cadence, what I heard was that her life with her husband as the anchor was full and complete. I knew Bob as a quiet man of few words, but when he spoke, I listened. Thanks Pat for that cue.

I left Georgia for Maine ten years ago, but will never forget Bob’s kindness and wit during a significant life transition. I will add to Mack Martin’s wishes for your rest in peace.

Bob was a dear friend of mine. I will miss his kind presence. A man who lived up to his marriage vows. Prayers for the family.

Bob was a cherished friend of mine that I worked, hunted and fished with for many years. I learned quickly what a champion of a man he was and he proved it with many years of caring for his wife Pat after she became unable to walk. Cindy and I extend our sincere condolences and prayers to his family. Bob…. may you rest in peace.

OBITUARY

Robert Dean Foster

August 5, 1937 – August 9, 2026

H.M. Patterson & Son-Canton Hill Chapel

Show your support

Add a Memory

Share Obituary

Get Reminders

Services