Fast, Walter John (1883-1961)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1961 Jan 12 p. 8

Birth date: 1883 Dec 17

text of obituary:

WALTER JOHN FAST

Walter John Fast, orn Dec. 17, 1883, in Marienburg, Germany, the son of Gerhard and Marie Penner Fast, passed away at his home on North River Road, Paso Robles, Calif., Dec. 7, 1960, after a prolonged illness. He immigrated to the United States in 1906, settling first in Idaho and coming to Paso Robles in 1922, and having lived here continuously since the.

On Feb. 22, 1912, he was united in marriage with Elise Anna Claassen by the late Rev. E. F. Jantzen. Six children were born into this home. One son, Gerhard, died in infancy.

He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Elise Fast, four daughters, Mrs. Anna Barber of Santa Barbara, Mrs. Marie Schroeder of Winton, and Erna and Bertha Fast of Paso Robles; one son, Edgar Fast, of Paso Robles; eight grandchildren, and two great-grandchildren. Also surviving are one brother, Gerhard Fast in Germany, one brother-in-law and one sister-in-law in Kansas. His parents, three sisters, and one brother preceded him in death.

He was baptized into the General Conference Mennonite Church in 1900. In 1922 he joined the Willow Creek Mennonite Church at Paso Robles, where he remained a member until his death. He was a faithful member of the church, having taught a Sunday school Class for several years.

On Saturday, Dec. 10, 1960, services were held at 1 p.m. for the family by Rev. Edward Toews, and at 2 p.m. at the Willow Creek Mennonite Church with the Rev. J. R. Duerksen officiating. Burial was in the Willow Creek cemetery. — The Family.