Anita Louise (Koski) Fouts, 87, died on Monday, June 16, 2025, at the Community Memorial Hospital in Missouri Valley surrounded by her husband and other family members. She was the first born of four children on April 27, 1938, to Lloyd and Hazel (Lyman) Koski near Dunlap. Her sister Bonnie and twins Gene and Jane completed the family. Anita was raised near Dunlap, attended Dunlap High School and graduated with the class of 1956. While in high school, Anita enjoyed playing basketball. Anita met a young man by the name of Phil Fouts when she was in 10th grade. The two fell in love and married on Oct. 31, 1956, when Phil was home on leave from the Marines. The two moved to California until Phil's honorable discharge. The couple returned to Dunlap and within six years they had their five children, Debbie, Brenda, Chris, Paul and Michelle. It was after all five children were born that Phil decided to be a funeral director. With Anita’s full support, Phil attended school at Dana College and then mortuary school in Chicago. Anita held two or three jobs and continued to raise their family until Phil completed his schooling. She worked at the Gold Slipper, sold Amway and Moore Brothers' Grocery Store in Dunlap, Battle Creek, and Woodbine. In Woodbine she worked at both the grocery store and in the store’s office. After Phil completed his schooling the family moved to Battle Creek for one year before moving to Woodbine where Phil worked at the White Funeral Home. Anita did upholstered furniture for a number of years. In 1980, Phil and Anita purchased the funeral homes in Woodbine and Dunlap. Anita and Phil made the perfect partnership in marriage and in work. The two built an extremely successful business and served the families in the surrounding area with care and compassion. They sold the funeral homes to Paul and Beth in 1998. They enjoyed going to Arkansas to golf, playing cards, and visiting with friends.
Anita was an active member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, served on the Parish Council, member of Altar Society, member of the Catholic Daughters, past chairwoman of the Promotions Committee through Woodbine Main Street, past president of P.E.O. Chapter FB, volunteered at the Woodbine Food Pantry, as well as many other volunteer opportunities. Anita was a wonderful cook and made the best roast beef and mashed potatoes! She loved to play cards, golf, sew, quilt, cook and bake. Anita made many of the bridesmaid dresses for family weddings and baked many of the wedding cakes also. She loved spoiling the grandkids and great-grandkids with homemade cookies, malts, playing games with them and her famous cinnamon sugar toast. The grandkids say she had the best combination of cinnamon and sugar. Most of all Anita loved her family and was the perfect example of how to love your family unconditionally. She has been the best wife, mother, mother-in-law, grandma, great-grandma, sister, aunt and friend that anyone could ask for.
Anita was preceded in death by her parents; parents-in-law, Faye and Helen Fouts; son-in-law, Ben Ellison; and great-grandson, Sailor Lawrence. She is survived by her husband, Phil Fouts of Woodbine; five children, Debbie (Dave) Moores of Woodbine and their girls Selena and Laura; Brenda Ellison of Topeka, Kan. and her children, Charlie and Nikki; Chris (Kim) Brouse of Council Bluffs and their two children Cassy and Jaden; Paul (Beth) Fouts of Woodbine and their children Brianne, Matt and Ryan; Michelle (Ann) Fouts-Reppun of San Rafael, Calif. and their two children, Emma and Raven; 22 great-grandchildren; sisters, Bonnie (Dick) Hawes of Okoboji and Jane (Dave) Gardner of Edina, Minn.; and brother, Gene (Wendy) Koski of Lake Quivira, Kan. and many other relatives and friends.
A Mass of Christian Burial was held on Friday, June 20, 2025, at the Sacred Heart Church in Woodbine with Father Samuel Danso presiding over the service. The musicians were Mary Kay Eby, John Sandison, Beth Fouts, Mandy Sandvold and Molly Green. The pallbearers were Matt Fouts, Ryan Fouts, Jaden Brouse, Raven Reppun, Billy Lutz, Keaton Moores, Andy Gardner and Larry Klein. Anita’s final resting place is the Woodbine Cemetery.
Fouts Funeral Home in Woodbine was in charge of arrangements. www.foutsfuneralhome.com
