Si Foiles age 77 of Savage passed away on Thursday, June 12th. There will be a Memorial Gathering and an opportunity for one more coffee with Si on Monday, June 16, 9:00 -11:00 AM, with Prayers and Reflection at 10:30 AM at Ballard-Sunder Funeral & Cremation, 833 S. Marschall Road, Shakopee, MN 55379.
Silas was born on September 16, 1936, in Coffeyville, Kansas, and he later moved to the Foiles Dairy Farm in Arkansas City with his parents Merle and Vera Foiles and brother Norman. Si and Norman helped with the farm chores and got up early to deliver milk around town. In high school, Si was president of his chapter of the Future Farmers of America. He also enjoyed many good times with his classmate and long-time friend, Clayton Scott.
After graduating from Arkansas City High School, Si met and married Janice Wilson in 1957. In 1959, they welcomed the birth of their beautiful baby girl, Tanja. Si enlisted in the Navy and was stationed in Key West, Florida where he worked as a corpsman. When Si wasn’t working, he enjoyed spending days at the beach with Tanja.
Once honorably discharged, Si moved his family to Oklahoma City and soon there was an addition — another beautiful baby girl, Vicki. Si delivered milk, sold cars and managed a Kmart store to support his family. Si and Janice went their separate ways, and the girls lived with their mom.
Deciding to take advantage of the G.I. Bill, Si went back to school and earned a degree and certification as a Urologic Physician Assistant from the University of Wisconsin – LaCrosse. Outreach with the University of Minnesota Urology Department became Si’s passion. Si covered much of Minnesota and northern Iowa for his work, including hospitals in New Ulm, Canby, and Marshall.
It was at a hospital in New Ulm that Si met the love of his life, Julie Anderson. Working together Julie did not take to Si. After some time, she realized that it was much easier being his friend than his coworker. Eventually the two began dating and became engaged. One night during happy hour, Si and his boss (and future best man) planned an entire wedding and scribbled Julie’s assignments on a restaurant check. Si and Julie were married on August 31, 1985 in Deephaven, MN.
Together Si and Julie did a lot of traveling. They always attended the American Urological Association conferences. Held in a different city each year, it took them to San Francisco, Los Angeles, New York City, New Orleans and Boston. They also enjoyed annual winter trips to Tucson to visit Tanja and Vicki.
After Si retired in 1999, he and Julie moved to Boston for 3 ½ years for Julie’s work. Once her assignment was completed, they moved back to Minnesota and made their home in Savage. While Si didn’t have any hobbies of his own, he would hunt, fish and golf whenever his friends invited him. Si also loved his cats, and he took extra good care of Pericles and Protagoras. Si had a passion for cooking, and his specialty was his dry-rub ribs. Si watched cooking shows so he could learn and try new recipes. Si loved spending time with his friends and was a regular for morning coffee with the guys.
After a number of years of battling with health issues, Si passed away on Thursday, June 12, 2014, at St. Francis Hospital. His family was with him. He will be forever loved and remembered always by his wife, Julie Foiles; daughters, Tanja (Glenn Blevins) Foiles, Vicki (Jeffrey) Bozarth; grandchildren, Robert, Kristin and Paul; 3 great-grandchildren; foster brother, Norman (Oneta) Bryant; and other loving relatives and friends. Si is preceded in death by his parents.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Animal Humane Society in Si’s honor.
