Foster was an enthusiastic and talented Athlete from an early age. He LOVED baseball, and played it from T-ball, to East Moline Little League, to Travel Baseball with the QC A’s and UT Titans, and finally UT High School. He also played football from early on with the Jr Panthers, and finished his High School career on the UT Football Team. He played Jr Panther Basketball, and joined the UT Golf Team in High School.

Kevin was always proud of Foster’s athletic toughness – he never gave up, never quit during tough practices, drills or games. Foster lived and breathed sports -- if he wasn’t playing, he was watching, if he wasn’t watching, he was talking sports. He had jerseys of his favorite players from every sport, and wore them almost every day. Though his love for sports was wide and diverse, he loved the Chicago Cubs most of all, and was ecstatic when they won the World Series on the day after his 19th birthday – November 2nd, 2016.

It’s still surreal, and almost unbearable, for us to believe that just a little over 8 months later, Foster would be gone from this world, and we would be honoring his memory by wearing our favorite Cubs gear to his Visitation and Funeral services, singing “Go Cubs Go” in his honor, Pallbearers all dressed in Foster’s own Cubs jerseys. This is not the storyline that any of us expected Foster’s life to follow, this is not the way his life should have ended.

Foster was always so full of life and happy on the outside. As his family, we are comforted in knowing that he had so many wonderful, fun experiences with us and with his friends. We were devoted to having special family vacations, dinners and escapades. One of our last trips all together was catching a Cubs game on May 2nd, Tristyn’s birthday. We had the best time, and took awesome pictures…we will cling to the memories of that day, and of all of the wonderful times that Foster had in this world.

Foster’s handsome, smiling face and sweet persona was hiding deep turmoil, and the tremendous weight of anxiety and depression. Foster was so loved by so many – friends, family, coworkers, customers. He knew how very loved he was, and he loved hard right back. Besides his bright eyes and smile, you’ll also notice that there are literally hundreds of pictures of him hugging a friend or loved one. Despite all of the good that was in Foster’s life and heart, he was overtaken by depression. In the last months of his life, he battled and fought so hard to overcome it, but tragically in the end, the depression won.  Foster would have never, ever have wanted to see his friends and family in so much pain, but the truth that we are beginning to understand, is that he simply could not bear his own pain any longer.

Foster Charles Atwood, you are loved now and forever. Your life has been a blessing, and we, as your loved ones, intend on ensuring that you will live on forever in the hearts of all of those who hear your story. Your death will not have been in vain!  It had a purpose and we will now share your voice in the hope of saving other blessed souls such as yours.   Love you forever.