Mason Ray Foertsch, 89

Mason Ray Foertsch, 89, of Lamar, Indiana, passed away at 6:04 a.m. CDT Tuesday, June 2, 2015, at his residence in Lamar.

He was born May 10, 1926 in Spencer County, Indiana, to Oscar and Mable (Roos) Foertsch.

He was a graduate of Dale High School. After graduation, Mason sold advertising for the yellow pages in phone books. In the years following he worked at the Servel plant in Evansville making refrigerators; opened a dairy farm in Lamar; and also worked for Bud Bruce making and delivering concrete blocks in Tell City.

In the late 1950s, Mason bought his first bulldozer and began digging farm ponds. In 1967 Foertsch Construction was formed. From this small beginning, Foertsch Construction built the roads, dam and golf course at Christmas Lake Village. Foertsch Construction branched out into coal mining in the early 70s, subsequently Little Sandy Coal Company was formed along with river and rail coal-loading facilities. In the 90s Corn Island Shipyard was started for the purpose of building river barges.

Mason was initiated by the Free Masons as an Entered Apprentice on March 28, 1963. He passed to Degree of Fellow Craft on May 23, 1963, and raised to the Sublime Degree of Master Mason on June 11, 1964. He was a member of the Tell City Lodge for 50 years. He would have been a member for 51 years on June 11, 2015. Mason was also a member of the Odd Fellows for many years and enjoyed attending their meetings every Monday. Mason served on the board of directors of the former Peoples Building and Loan for many years. He was also Spencer County Republican Party Chairman and served on the President’s Coal Counsel under the Reagan and Bush administrations.

He is survived by his wife, Debra Sue (maiden name: Pund) Foertsch of Lamar;three sons, Don (Linda) Foertsch of Lamar, Vince (Debbie) Peter of Tell City and Eric Meunier of Tell City; one daughter, Cindy (David) Seibert of Cannelton; 15 grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mason Foertsch will be held at 10:00 a.m. CDT on Saturday, June 6, 2015, at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church in Santa Claus with burial to follow at Grandview Cemetery in Grandview, Indiana.  Pastor Tim Ahlemeyer will officiate at the service.

Friends may call for visitation at the Santa Claus United Methodist Church in Santa Claus from 2:00 to 8:00 p.m., CDT on Friday.

Fraternal prayer services will be conducted by the Newtonville Odd Fellows Lodge #353 followed by the Tell City Masonic Lodge F&AM #623 starting at 7:00 p.m. CDT Friday evening at the church.

Nass & Son Funeral Home in Huntingburg has been entrusted with the funeral arrangements. All visitation will be held at the church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to the Ailene Vance Scholarship Fund or to a favorite charity.

Condolences may be shared online at www.nassandson.com.