Fast, Heinrich (1849-1930)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 12 Mar 1930 p. 5

Birth date: 1849

text of obituary:

Rev. Heinrich Fast, Sr.

Mt. Lake, Minn., March 6. — Funeral services for Rev. Heinrich Fast, Sr., were held from the Valley church Tuesday afternoon, in the presence of friends and relatives of the deceased, whose end came after an illness of more than four months, last Thursday evening. Rev. H. H. Regier was in charge of the services at the residence, Rev. John Wall, Rev. D. A. Regier, Rev. N. N. Hiebert and Rev. Jacob Stoesz spoke at the church services, and Rev. J. J. Balzer spoke at the brief services held at the cemetery.

The deceased has spent forty years of his life preaching the Gospel in this community, and his entire life has been devoted to the Lord’s work.

He was born in South Russia on August 23, 1849. Here he spent the days of his youth, and also received his education. He came to this country with his parents in 1875, settling on a farm five miles northwest of Mountain Lake. In 1876 he was united in marriage to Maria Hamm. In 1877 he was called into the ministry, in which calling he was extremely active for almost forty years. After thirty-four years on the farm, Rev. and Mrs. Fast moved to Mountain Lake, where Mrs. Fast’s death occurred in 1917. Two years later he was married to Mrs. Helena Eitzen, who has cared for him tenderly during his long illness.

He was taken ill on Oct0ber 21, 1929, and since that time his strength has been failing more and more, until death came Thursday evening. He reached the age of 80 years, 6 months and 4 days. Six sons and four daughters were born to the first union, of whom 2 cons and 3 daughters have preceded their father in death. Twenty-six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren are living.

Miss Anna Mae Eitzen of Beatrice, Nebr., a step-daughter, and H. H. Schultz of Lustre, Mont., were among those present at the funeral services.

— Mt. Lake Observer