Arlene J. (Foster) Wade

Arlene Joyce (Foster) Wade, 91, of Sandwich, Ill., died on Feb. 24, 2024, at Pleasant View nursing home in Ottawa where she endured a short but courageous battle with cancer. 

Arlene was born Aug. 7, 1932, in Sandwich, the youngest of four daughters and one son of Buford and Mattie (Oddson) Foster. She grew up in Millington and Sandwich. She completed grade school in a one-room schoolhouse in Millington and attended Sandwich High School.

She met William "Bill" Wade of Plano when they were both 15 years old at the Sandwich roller rink. They were married on Oct. 12,1952, in Las Vegas just before he went overseas where he served as a sergeant in the Korean War. They were together more than 60 years. They were NASCAR fans with Arlene's favorite driver being Rusty Wallace. They enjoyed many camping and fishing trips, a lot of fish fries and annual treks to Branson, Mo.

Arlene collected and loved her teddy bears that she displayed to add comfort to her home that was always immaculate and as inviting as her smile. She enjoyed decorating her home but also looked forward to warmer months when she could tend to her flowers outside and shop all the local garage sales.  

She had been retired for many years but worked several years in the Circulation Department of Mooseheart near Aurora. 

Her pain is gone now and she will rest in peace in Oak Ridge Cemetery in Sandwich, Ill., next to her husband, William E. Wade, who died June 17, 2014, and her son, Tom Lawrence Wade, who died Aug. 8, 2018. 

Arlene also was preceded in death by her parents; three sisters, Helen M. Cain, LaVonne “Bonnie” E. Johnson and Janet Page; one brother, Buford “Lawrence” Foster; her uncle, Otis M. (Hazel) Oddson; and a cousin, Willis (Doris) Nordtvedt.

She is survived by many nieces and nephews who loved her as "Aunt Ene" including her three nieces, Donna (Jeff) Cook of Alvin, Ill.,  Diane (Bill) Hardecopf of Yorkville, Ill., Cathy Jones of Ottawa and three nephews, Lonny (Cindy) Cain, of Ottawa, Dallas (Vickie) Johnson of Mt. Vernon, Wash., and Johnnie J. Johnson of Shelbyville, Tenn.; also  cousins, Doris (Doyle) Serby, of Ottawa, and Donna (Jerry) Leonard, of Sandwich, and several nieces and nephews in the Wade family. 

There will be a private inurnment at the cemetery with a memorial service that will be scheduled at a later date. Arrangements have been handled by Beverage Family Funeral Home in Sandwich and remembrances may be left online at www.beveragefamilyfh.com