Steven Dale Fosler was a farm boy from Nebraska who traveled beyond the confines of the cornfields to leave a legacy of compassion and creativity through all that he did and was. Steve passed away surrounded by his loved ones on July 3, 2023.
The oldest of five children, Steve was born to H. Dale and Marian Fosler on Sept. 2, 1949. Steve graduated from Seward High School in 1967. He earned his degree in physics from Nebraska Wesleyan University and went on to join the Peace Corps, serving two years in Ghana. While it wouldn’t be his last venture away from the farm, it would be the one in which he found himself.
After moving to Vancouver, British Columbia, and obtaining his degree in architecture, Steve made his home in Oregon, where he built his own firm, Fosler Architecture. He advocated for mass transit and a bicycle-friendly community, pioneered energy-efficient and sustainable building, and made Portland a better place to live and work.
He met the love of his life, Mark Smith, in 1989. They created a wonderful life together, raising and loving cats and way too many plants. Slow, quiet mornings and strong, delicious coffee were always on the agenda. They traveled, dreamed, and spent 34 years complementing each other in ways that only a couple that was truly compatible could. They were united in marriage on Aug. 29, 2015.
Steve saw solutions when others would only see problems. He fought for unity when others tried to create divides. He lived a life true to himself when, at times, being someone else might have been easier. He was kind and thoughtful and well-spoken and had a gift of making people feel understood without ever saying a word. He beautifully balanced his brilliant mind with his sensitive, caring heart. He was simple yet simply extraordinary.
Steve leaves behind an adoring husband, Mark; two kitties, Joel and Jake; a sister, Susan Walsh; a brother, Clark Fosler; and a cadre of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, cousins, friends, neighbors and colleagues. He is preceded in death by his beloved cats, Cam, Arthur, Cobi, Bob, and Kira; parents, H. Dale and Marian Fosler; brother, Carl Fosler; sister, CoraLynn Malmberg; and parents-in-law Lemuel and Marge Smith.
Memorial contributions are suggested to the family.
