Ian Foster died at age 63 on February 5, 2017, in the care of his family at home in Bow, Washington.

Ian was born in Rowayton, Connecticut on January 25, 1954, the only son of David W. and Nancy A. Foster.

He had a deep love of the East Coast but made his way to the West Coast in the 1980s, and eventually settled in La Conner.

A fisherman since his child-hood, Ian became a successful commercial fisherman in the waters of Puget Sound and the Strait of the Juan de Fuca. A dedicated father, his daughter, Joey, was his pride and joy. He was a spirited storyteller, had a compassionate nature and always tried to leave people better than he found them. He will be deeply missed.

A loving father, grandfather, brother, uncle and friend, Ian was the beloved father of Joey M. Foster, and devoted grandfather of Gracie Iribarran. He was the dear brother of his sisters Margaret, Jan and Nina and his sister Gray Foster, who preceded him in death.

Ian was deeply loved by his nieces and nephews: Meg and Noel Almanza, Tad Kreager, Christopher Starr, Andrew Roney, Lily Basye, Michael Castillo, Derek and Kennedy Almanza, and was the loving stepfather of Tandy and Matika Wilbur.

“This brave and tender man in every storm of life was oak and rock, but in the sunshine, he was vine and flower.”—Robert G. Ingersoll, 1879

A Celebration of Ian’s Life will be held on Sunday, April 9, from 11a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Swinomish Spiritual Center located at 17456 Pioneer Parkway on the Swinomish Reservation in La Conner.