Ester Lee Poling, 85, passed away on August 2, 2025, at Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility following a long illness. Born on October 16, 1939 in Saginaw, Michigan, to Eva Losee and Robert Foster, Ester graduated from Addison High School, where she met her husband, Dale. They moved to Dover, Delaware for several years before returning to Michigan, where they settled in Pittsford on 2 ½ acres full of gardens, grapes, and fruit trees. Ester enjoyed gardening, crafting, baking, sewing, cooking, drawing, genealogy, trips to Mackinaw Island, and taking care of her family. She was an avid fan of the Detroit Tigers, and summers were spent with the radio tuned to every Tigers game. After their children grew up and moved away, Ester and Dale raised and hybridized varieties of irises, and won awards at regional iris shows. She owned her own home upholstery business, and sewed many Big 10 flags for Sir James Outerwear. Ester was very involved in the community. She was a member of Our Saviour Lutheran Church and Ladies Guild in Hudson, Michigan, and later at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan. She was an avid member of Wheatland Grange, and loved helping prepare their award-winning booth at the Hillsdale County Fair. She was active in her local 4-H group, and taught baking, cooking, and sewing. Her children were also lucky to have her as Room Mother for school activities and trips.
Esther is survived by her husband, Dale; children Deborah Ehnis-Clark (Geoffrey), Stephen (Julie), Rebecca (Kevin), and Melissa Francis (Ken); grandchildren Brian, Katy, Zane, Sam, and Abby; great-grandchild Silas; and many loving in-laws, family, and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents, Robert Foster and Eva Bigelow; 6 brothers and sisters, Robert Foster, Jr., Jesse Foster, Freida Foster, Terry Foster, Thelma Stuttz and Laura Bigelow.
Visitation will be held at Brown Van Hemert Funeral Home – Hudson, 504 West Main Street in Hudson, Michigan, on Wednesday, August 6, from 4-7 p.m. Visitation will also be held at St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan, on Thursday, August 7, at St. Stephen Lutheran Church, from 10-11 a.m. Funeral services will begin at 11a.m. with Pastor Brian Keller officiating, with a luncheon to follow. Internment will follow at Church’s Corners Cemetery, Wheatland Township, at 2 p.m. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Adrian, Michigan. The family would like to thank Hillsdale County Medical Care Facility for their years of care and concern, their staff and caregivers, and hospice staff. Friends can express sympathies to the family online by visiting the tribute wall at www.brownvanhemert.com. Arrangements have been made with the guidance of the Brown-Van Hemert Funeral Home, Hudson.