Phyllis Bennett Foxgrover-Slattery

Phyllis Bennett Foxgrover-Slattery, 89, of Kaukauna, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, September 13, at the Cherry Meadows Hospice in Appleton. A memorial service for Phyllis will be held this Saturday, September 16, at 2:00 p.m. at Immanuel United Church of Christ, 510 Sullivan Avenue, Kaukauna, with a reception following. Pastor Melinda Feller will officiate, and Rev. David Brian Wedekind, Phyllis’ nephew, will also participate. Phyllis’ daughter-in-law, Marsha Foxgrover, will play the organ.

Born and raised in Zion, IL, Phyllis was the third child of Raymond and Lottie Puhl Bennett. After her father suffered a stroke, Phyllis left high school to work and help support the family. After working in grocery stores in Milwaukee and Oshkosh, Phyllis moved with her family to Kaukauna, where she worked in the grocery store operated by her parents. Shortly thereafter, Phyllis met Norman “Butch” Foxgrover, and they were married on September 23, 1934. Phyllis and Norman had been married for almost 47 years when he died in 1981.

In 1957, Phyllis earned a GED and enrolled in Outagamie County Teachers College. After being awarded a teaching certificate in 1959, Phyllis began her education career as a teacher at Harrison School in Sherwood. A few years later, Phyllis began teaching at Nicolet School in Kaukauna and completed her service to the Kaukauna schools as a reading specialist in 1985. Phyllis received her Bachelor’s degree from UW-Oshkosh and a Master’s degree in reading from UW-Milwaukee.

In the 1970’s Phyllis received a government grant to establish a summer in-service program for the Kaukauna schools to help classroom teachers improve their skills in teaching reading. The program was so successful that Phyllis was invited to present the program at state and national education conventions. In 1972, she presented the Kaukauna program at the convention of the International Reading Association in Detroit. Phyllis was the charter president of the Mid-East section of the IRA, and she also served as president of the Kaukauna Education Association.

A member of Delta Kappa Gamma, a national group of reading educators, Phyllis’ contributions to classroom teaching and the teaching of reading were recognized in 1985 by a proclamation of the Wisconsin State Legislature.

A few years after retiring, Phyllis met Leo F. Slattery, and they were married on September 29, 1990, at Immanuel UCC. Phyllis and Leo had many common interests and enjoyed traveling and socializing with their friends. Leo passed away in 2004.

Phyllis’ strong faith in Christ was an inspiration. When Phyllis’ doctor recently informed her that her neurological condition was probably terminal, Phyllis responded: “Good! I’m eager to meet my Lord and Savior.” Several times during her stay at Cherry Meadows Hospice, she said (in a voice made raspy by the neurological degeneration) to family members: “I am blessed.” Her only question was, “How long?” and she usually answered the question herself with “God knows!”

Phyllis was blessed with strong relationships with family members and friends, and she was very grateful to all who helped her remain in her home of 62 years and especially during the recent months of her illness. Phyllis’ family also expresses its gratitude to the skilled and conscientious staff at Cherry Meadows Hospice and to the Hospice volunteers.

Survivors include Phyllis’ sons, Norman of Appleton and David (Marsha) of Batavia, IL. Another son, Philip, passed away in 2001. Five grandchildren: Lori (Todd) Keating of Appleton, Kari (Stephen) McDonald of Lakeville, MN, Craig Foxgrover of Chicago, Sara (Tom) Forsmark of Naperville, IL, and Amy (Chris) Lindstrom of Oak Park, IL. And four great-grandchildren: Cienna and Chenoa Keating, and Grant and Claire McDonald. Phyllis is also survived by two dear sisters, Doris (David) Wedekind of Zion, IL, and Charlotte Wendling of Springfield, IL. A sister, Katherine, died at age 14, and another sister, Ruth, passed away in 1995.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Immanuel UCC, 510 Sullivan Avenue, Kaukauna, WI 54130, where Phyllis was a member for over 70 years, or to the MN-WI Baptist Disaster Relief-Directors, 519 16th Street, SE. Rochester, MN 55904.

FARGO FUNERAL HOME
400 W. Wisconsin Avenue
Kaukauna, WI 54130
920-766-6200