David Lowell Foslien

January 10, 1941 — February 25, 2024

Longview

David Foslien, 83, of Longview, Washington, passed away on February 25th after battling
pneumonia.
David was born on January 10, 1941, to Francis Conrad and Esther Foslien in Fergus Falls,
Minnesota. He grew up on the family dairy farm in Garfield, Minnesota. After graduating from
Jefferson High School in 1959, David was drafted into the United States Army where he excelled
at helicopter maintenance and chess. After his service he went on to study at Dunwoody Institute
in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was at this time that he met and fell in love with DiAnn Skoglund.
They were married in 1963 and were with each other through all of life's ups and downs.
David started his career as an apprentice plumber and pipefitter for Lunseth Plumbing & Heating
in Grand Forks, North Dakota. In 1964 and 1965 he worked on a piping crew at sugar beet refinery
and on Minuteman Missile Sites. In 1965, Dave and DiAnn moved to Longview where he worked
at several local companies until 1972 when joined J.H. Kelly. He loved it and would end up staying
with J.H. Kelly for 30 years, rising through the ranks to Project Superintendent. He was the early
talent scout for J.H. Kelly identifying and recruiting several key personnel with a great work ethic
and a willingness to be part of a team.
In 2002 after retiring with his wealth of knowledge, David continued to help with projects. David
said, “I don’t do any work, they just ask me what I think.”
David and DiAnn would go on to have two children, Jodi and Justin. David was a wonderful and
devoted father, husband, and teacher. He always taught us to value hard work and supported us all
throughout the many accomplishments and difficulties of our lives. When David wasn't working
at a project site at Weyerhaeuser or Longview Fibre, he could be found in his shop at home. An
avid woodworker, David dedicated much of his time to storing many types of wood for present
and future projects that included crafting a grandfather clock, murphy bed, mission style furniture,
refurnishing old wood furniture, and Norwegian lunchboxes. He also enjoyed wood turning bowls,
plates, wine stoppers, and shoehorns.
As a member of Bethany Lutheran Church, David could be found every Thursday helping to keep
the building maintained with his buddies of the Duct Tape Crew. He was also very active in the
American Legion and 40 et 8 and managed the American Legion nursing scholarship program and
focusing on students that worked hard and were driven to achieve their goals.
After retirement, Papa was involved in his grandchildren’s activities, attending as many as he could
in Olympia and Lake Stevens. He and Nanny also enjoyed family vacations to the beach or the
mountains with the grandkids and their parents.
David was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Elisabeth Schramm and Katheryn Erickson.
He is survived by his wife DiAnn, daughter Jodi and son in law Troy Kunkel of Olympia, son
Justin and daughter in law Lisa Foslien of Lake Stevens and sister Carolyn Carlstrom of
Alexandria, Minnesota. Grandchildren include Bryn Kunkel, Sophie Foslien and Sydney Foslien
and many nieces and nephews.

There will be a celebration of life at 11am on Saturday March 23 at Trinity Lutheran Church in
Longview.

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David Lowell Foslien

January 10, 1941 — February 25, 2024

Longview

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