FORESMAN, Emmett William

Meldrum Mortuary & Crematory Mesa, Arizona Emmett William Foresman November 6, 1920 ~ March 24, 2012 Emmett William Foresman, 91, passed away March 24, 2012 in Mesa, Arizona. Emmett was born November 6, 1920 at his family's home on their farm outside Guthrie Center, Iowa to Burl and Mae Foresman. Emmett is survived by his wife of 70 years, Delene; sisters Gladys Dutler (Guthrie Center, IA); Jean Nagel (Norwalk, IA); brother Frank and his wife Joan (Des Moines, IA); daughters Susan Brenden and her husband James (Mesa, AZ); Catherine Miller and her husband Mark (Tempe, AZ); grandson Matthew Miller and his wife Nicole (Chandler, AZ); granddaughter Miriam Miller (Mesa, AZ) and great-grandson Nick (Chandler, AZ) as well as numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. Emmett was predeceased by his granddaughter Erika (1974) daughter of Jim & Susan and sister-in-law Audrey Hatfield and husband Larry Hatfield, brothers-in-law Boyd Nagel, Floyd Eagen and Roy Dutler. Memorial Service to be held on Saturday, April 14, 2012 at 10:00 am at Fellowship Square, 155 W. Brown Rd. in the Grand Community Room. The family requests (in lieu of flowers) donations be made in Emmett's name to: Sunshine Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 426, Flagstaff, AZ 86002, Phoenix Rescue Mission, P.O. Box 63005, Phoenix, AZ 85082 or your favorite charity. Emmett was born and raised on a farm outside Guthrie Center, Iowa and graduated from Guthrie Center High School. An avid baseball player Emmett played baseball for the M & M Cardinals. While working at John Rowley's hardware store, he met Delene who was attending Drake University. This chance meeting resulted in their marriage in Douglas, Arizona in 1941 just two weeks before Pearl Harbor. Moving from Douglas they homesteaded in Centralia, Washington. In 1944 Emmett enlisted in the Army. Emmett served in the U.S. Army as a combat rifleman during and after the Battle of the Bulge (1944-1945). Upon his discharge in 1946, Emmett and Delene returned to Centralia where he worked in a fish hatchery. They remained in Centralia until 1948, when Susan was born. Susan's birth prompted a move back to Arizona to a small farm in Double Adobe, outside of Douglas. They grew a variety of crops and livestock to sustain themselves and their family. Upon the birth of second daughter, Catherine in 1950, Emmett supplemented their income by working for the Arizona Department of Transportation, essentially working two full-time jobs. Emmett's promotion to Maintenance Foreman resulted in their move to Douglas where they continued to be active in Foothills Church, Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge #19 (past Worshipful Master) and Border Chapter Order of Eastern Star (past Worthy Matron & past Worthy Patron). After 30 years, Emmett retired from the Highway Department in1980. He and Delene moved to Sedona where he kept busy tending his roses and doing woodworking and upholstery. He is well-known for his beautiful marquetry and scroll work. Emmett and Delene were active members of Wayside Chapel. In 2006 Emmett and Delene moved to Fellowship Square in Mesa, Arizona and he became a valuable addition to the woodshop there. In 2011 they moved to the Oasis Annex where he remained until his death. His final resting place will be the National Cemetery, Phoenix, AZ. Emmett, first and foremost, was a man of God. Most of his woodworking projects were religiously themed. He was a wonderful husband, father, grandfather and friend. He was a patient, talented, humble, gentle, and spiritual man who will be greatly missed.