Howard Foxen

Howard Stanley Foxen, 79, Jamestown, North Dakota died Thursday, April 12, 2007 at Jamestown Hospital.

Howard Foxen was born March 12, 1928, in Pembina county, Backoo, ND. He was the son of Stella and William Foxen. He received his education in Walhalla and Crystal, ND. He later entered the Marine Corps and was shipped to Oahu where he served first as a crane operator in the F4U Squadron and later was trained in the Crash Firefighting School. He was honorably discharged in December of 1948 as a sergeant.

Howard met his wife, Elizabeth Ann Flanagan the spring of 1945. They corresponded often while he was in the Marine Corps, and eventually married on November 14, 1949, in a double wedding ceremony. They started their lives as man and wife in Crystal, ND. In the spring of 1951, they moved to Gardar, ND, and from there they moved to Fargo, ND, where Howard drove city bus for about a year. He then began driving for Dan Dugan, an oil transport company. In 1954, they moved to Jamestown where he continued driving for Dan Dugan until 1960. The Foxen family then decided to move to Mukwonago, WI, where his family was living and drove truck hauling produce to and from the entire East Coast. Feeling unhappy about being away from Ann and the kids too much, he moved the family back to Gardar, ND, where he worked for the State Highway Department. Howard and his family eventually returned to Jamestown when he was hired by Standard Oil (Amoco). He drove tanker another twenty years and served as union steward for a few of those years until he retired with an excellent driving record and numerous driving awards. After retiring, he worked with the Jamestown Parks and Recreation for five years.

Howard Foxen enjoyed many activities and hobbies over the years, and he was a faithful and active member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Jamestown until his cancer worsened. He played amateur baseball and fast pitch softball for a number of years. He loved to play pool and bowl, but perhaps his singing and playing guitar was his most important activity. He enjoyed being in a band, the Country Roads, for a few years. Howard and Ann also totally enjoyed camping with all of its relaxation and activities. When Howard was in his fifties, he picked up a new sport, golf, for which he developed a true passion. He became good enough to win the senior division of Jamestown's city tournaments several times. But something that he and Ann truly treasured was their visits all over the country to see their son, Randy, an officer in the U.S. Army, and his wife, Yeoung Ju.

Howard will be fondly remembered and loved as a self-sacrificing man who was a strong, hard-working husband, father, grandfather and brother.

Howard is survived by his wife, Ann, Jamestown; three daughters, Barbara Gendreau, Fargo, ND, Vickie Heinen and Kathy Taxis, both of Jamestown; two half sisters, Isabel Cesear and Judy Linde, both of the Mukwonago, WI area; one half-brother, Gene Gainer, Oklahoma City, OK; seven grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; six great-grandchildren and one step-great-grandchild.

He was preceded in death by his son, Randy Foxen, his mother and father, Stella Gainer and Howard Foxen; his step-father, Willard Gainer, his brother, Willard Foxen; two half-sisters, Beverly Fohr and Lila Rudolph, and one half-brother, Lyle Gainer.

Funeral Service: 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Jamestown with Pastor John Syvertson officiating.

Visitation: 1:00 to 7:00 PM, Monday, April 16, 2007 at the Eddy Funeral Home in Jamestown.

Prayer Service: 7:00 PM, Monday, April 16, 2007 at the Eddy Funeral Chapel.

Burial: Highland Home Cemetery, Jamestown, North Dakota.