John W. Foskey

John W. Foskey, Sr. was born on April 18, 1937 on his family’s farm in Hockessin, Delaware to Horace T. Foskey Sr. and Martha (Dove) Foskey. Fulfilling his deepest wish to die on the farm where he was born, John passed away on June 13, 2025 at his Hockessin home.

Though he worked for a number of companies and entities over the years, including Bancroft Mills, Eastern States Construction and New Castle County, John’s abiding loves were his family and his family farm. Growing up on the family farm in Hockessin, he enjoyed the traditional pursuits of hunting and fishing, as well as the more tedious aspects of maintaining an active and productive farm.

His love of farming continued throughout his long life, and he was the only one of the four Foskey siblings to keep his portion of the farm land for his entire lifetime. After living in Richardson Park for many years, John had a new home built on his acreage in 2023 and he spent his final year living on the former family farm property, enjoying the change of the seasons and the growth and harvest of his crops, and watching the deer and other wildlife surrounding his home.

John is survived by his daughter, Harriet “Suggie” Rose and her husband Gary, who he regarded as his other son; his son, John W. Jr. (Erika Mutter); his sisters Rebecca B. Blackburn and Susan P. Gunzel (Claus); his dear friend, William Persoleo, Jr. (Donna); and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his beloved wife of sixty years, Marie E. (Kozlowski) Foskey; and his brother, Horace T. Foskey, Jr.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at 10:30am on Friday, June 20, 2025, at St. Hedwig Church, 408 S. Harrison Street, Wilmington, DE 19805, where family and friends may visit beginning at 9:30am. Interment will be held in Cathedral Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests donations to the Brandywine Valley SPCA, 290 Churchman’s Rd, New Castle, DE 19720; Faithful Friends Animal Society, 165 Airport Rd, New Castle, DE 19702; or to St. Hedwig Church, at the address listed above.

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