Philip A. Foth, 91, of Sparta, passed away Friday, October 19, 2007 at Golden Living Center in Columbus, NE. He was born on November 21, 1915 in the Town of Adrian, Monroe County, Wisconsin to Frank D. and Mollie (Vieth) Foth. He graduated from Sparta High School and the Dairy Genetics Program at the University of Wisconsin, Madison.

     On June 2, 1943 he was married to Doris Jones at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Sparta. After a few years spent farming at Coles Valley, the Foths moved to West Salem, then Sparta where Philip worked for the Tri State Breeders Coop of Westby; now the world wide Accelerated Genetics Program, based in Baraboo. He continued that employment for thirty seven years and became well known in the farming communities of Sparta, Bangor, Mindoro, and West Salem. He was awarded a lifetime membership in the Dairy Shrine Club, and was the national recipient of the Animal Breeders Association Award and the 100,000 Service and Quarter Century awards as well as others.

     Philip was a long time member of the United Methodist Church, serving on its various committees and the Odd Fellows Lodge where he served as Grand Master and Secretary-Treasurer. He was a former member of the Morrow Memorial Home, Sparta Free Library and the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Boards.

     Philip enjoyed traveling, sports events, and gardening.

     He is survived by his wife, Doris of Columbus, NE; daughters, Sharyn and her husband Michael Beard of Columbus, Nebraska, Sally and her husband Robert McBride of Layton, Utah; grandchildren, Katelyn McBride of Layton, Timothy Beard of Palo Alto,CA, Captain Steven Beard on his second tour of duty in Iraq, and his wife Adrian of Lincoln, Nebraska; sisters, Minnie Lakey of St. Louis, Missouri, Elinor (Carrol) Ziegler of Sparta and Fern Christianson of Milwaukee; sisters and brothers-in-law: Jack and Phyllis Christiano and Wayne Jones of Sparta; Lorraine Foth of Cottage Grove, WI and Janet and Vernon Butzler of Janesville as well as several nieces and nephews.

       He was preceded in death by a daughter, Susan; his parents and parents-in-law;  sisters, Agnes Pederson, Marion Foth, and brothers: Franklin, Wilbur and Henry.

     Funeral services will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at the United Methodist Church, Sparta with Reverend David Carlson officiating. Burial will be in the Mt. Hope Cemetery, Sparta.

     Friends may call at the Lanham-Miller Funeral, Sparta on Monday from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m. and at the church on Tuesday from 10 a.m. until the time of services.

     Memorials may be given to the United Methodist Church, the Morrow Memorial Home or a charity of your choice.

     The Lanham-Miller Funeral Home, Sparta is assisting the family with arrangements.