Fast, John P. (1875-1959)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Apr 23 p. 6

Birth date: 1875 Dec 2

text of obituary:

EARLY-DAY PIONEER IN OKLAHOMA DIES AT REEDLEY, CALIF. HOME

Reedley, Calif. — Funeral services for John P. Fast, 83, who was among the pioneer Mennonite settlers at Corn, Okla., were held April 16 at the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church. He died April 13 at the Reedley Home for Aged where he had lived since 1956.

A native of Marion County, Kan., Mr. Fast homesteaded a farm in Oklahoma. The family moved to Premont, Texas in 1928, where he served asa deacon in the M. B. congregation.

---

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1959 Apr 30 p. 8, 10

text of obituary:

JOHN P. FAST

John P. Fast, the son of John J. and Helena Wohlgemuth Fast, was born on Dec. 3, 1875, in Marion County, Kansas. Here he spent his childhood days and also accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as his personal Saviour. On Nov. 3, 1890, he was baptized upon his confession of faith and united with the Mennonite Brethren Church of Hillsboro, Kansas, for fellowship.

On Nov. 27, 1899, he was united in holy matrimony with Tina Schapansky. They made their home on a farm near Corn, Okla. This union, which was broken after eight years by the death of his companion, was blessed with three sons. One son passed away in infancy.

On April 14, 1908, the Lord again gave us a mother when father was united in holy matrimony to Tina Siemens. Mother passed away June 11, 1943, at Premont, Texas. This union, which lasted 35 years, one month and 27 days, was blessed with five sons and two daughters. One son, Walter, passed away in an accident at Blaine, Wash. in 1949.

In 1928 our parents moved to Premont, Texas, and in 1947 father moved to Blaine, Wash. where he made his home with his sons Dave and Ed. On June 28, 1956 he entered the Reedley Home for the Aged where he remained to the end.

Our father was a faithful steward of those things that the Lord entrusted unto him. In 1941 he was elected and ordained to serve as a deacon in the Premont church. His constant prayer was that all the children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren might become trophies of the grace of God.

In the last two years of his life he went through some severe physical sufferings even to the extent that one of his legs was amputated. Monday morning, April 13, 1959, about 10:00 a. m. the Lord called him and he received an abundant entrance into the Great Beyond. He reached the age of 83 years, four months and nine days.

Those who stand by at this time to commemorate his passing are the following: six sons, John Fast of Premont, Texas, Dave Fast of Blaine, Wash., Rev. Wesley Fast of Meade, Kansas, Edwin Fast of Blaine, Harry Fast of Blaine, Calvin Fast, Wyley [sic Wylie], Texas; two daughters, Louise Fast of Fresno, and Alice, Mrs. John Duerksen, Dinuba; 20 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; two brothers, Sam Fast of Visalia, and Jake Fast of Dinuba; seven sisters, Mrs. Jake Bergen of Shafter, Mrs. D. M. Enns of Reedel, Mrs. J. D. Hofer of Fresno, Mrs. H. H. Nikkel of Shafter, Mrs. Henry Fleishower [sic Fleischauer] of Bakersfield, Mrs. Henry Kroeker of Dallas, Oregon, Mrs. Herb Ratzlaff, Wasco.

Besides these there are seven daughters -in-law, one son-in-law, 14 brothers-in-law, five sisters-in-law, and many other relatives and friends.

The memorial service was held April 16 at the Mennonite Brethren Church, Reedley, Calif., with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. H. R. Wiens, officiating. — The children.