Joseph Rusitshka was born in the German-speaking village of Wolschen, Bohemia, Austro-Hungarian Empire, on September 8, 1863. Today it is in the Liberec region of the Czech Republic, (the village no longer exists). In the early 1880s, Joseph immigrated to the United States and settled in Wisconsin.

In 1884 he married Theresa Foerster, also a German-speaking Bohemian immigrant, in Ripon, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin. They had 9 children. They moved to Wilbur, Washington in the late 1880s and then to Clark Fork, Idaho in the early 1890s where they settled for many years.

It was during this time that the local authorities and the post office had problems spelling and pronouncing his name, so he used his wife's maiden name of Foerster. But when they still had problem with the pronounciation, he simplified the name to 'Foster'.

On November 29, 1897, Joseph became a naturalized U.S. citizen. When Joseph and Theresa became old, their youngest son Joseph Austin Foster moved them to Los Angeles around 1925 to be taken care of.

In 1938, Joseph went to a Notary and legally changed his name to Joe Foster.

Joe Foster died in Los Angeles on September 12, 1943. He is most likely buried at Rose Hills Memorial Park, but records are lacking.
Courtesy of (Kirk Haggerty (#48722189)
California, Death Index, 1940-1997

Name: Joseph Foster
Gender: Male
Birth Date: 8 Sep 1863
Birth Place: Other Country
Death Date: 12 Sep 1943
Death Place: Los Angeles
Father's Surname: Foster

The children of Joseph and Theresa Rusitshka Foster are:

Linda Rusitshka Johnson (1885-1923)
Teressa (Racy) Rusitshka (1887-?)
Albin Edward Foster (1889-1960)
Freda Rusitshka Guthrie (1891-1993)
Walter Anthony Foster (1892-1967)
Tillie Rusitska Ruen (1893-1992)
Emma Rusitshka Morris (1895-1992)
Louis George Foster (1897-1953)
Joseph Austin Foster (1903-1992)

Joe and Theresa lived their finall years at 1238 Bonnie Beach Place in East Los Angeles, so most likely when they died they were buried at Evergreen Cemetery. (Kirk Haggerty)