Fast, John N. (1892-1925)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1925 Aug 18 p. 1

Birth date: 1892 May 9

text of obituary:

JOHN N. FAST IS ACCIDENT VICTIM
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Two Cars Collided at Eitzen Cross Road Near Mt. Lake Resulting in Death
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(Mountain Lake View)

This community is deeply grieved as a result of a most dreadful and sad auto accident which occurred on Thursday night at about seven o’clock, when Mr. John N. Fast of this village met sudden death. Mr. and Mrs. Fast were returning from Mankato in their new Hudson Super Six, having almost reached Mountain Lake, they met Isaac Thiessen’s Oakland at the cross road just passing Rev. D. P. Eitzen’s farm. Mr. Thiessen was turning the corner to take highway No. 16, when Mr. Fast’s sedan struck the front part of his Oakland swerving the later around into the ditch at the left, Fast’s auto thereby lost its course and took to the right, passing with great speed over the road pole, with the left side of the cab striking the pole. Mr. Fast was thrown from the car when the crash at the pole took place which not only destroyed the top completely but also proved to be fatal to the owner. Mrs. Fast was not thrown from the car until the wrecked auto passed beyond the wire fence into the pasture. Here the car came to rest on the side and Mrs. Fast altho injured soon could walk toward her more unfortunate husband who lay with his back against a fence post.

Mr. Thiessen endeavored to assist Mr. Fast by lifting his head but life seemed to be extinct which was later confirmed by Dr. Piper who soon arrived on the scene.

The funeral service took place on Sunday afternoon at the Bethel church. It was estimated that about four thousand people passed the coffin at the close of the services. Since the church building was far too small to accommodate all, there were also services conducted in the park across the [remainder of sentence missing in original]

Rev. H. H. Regier spoke in the church on Ps. 73:1 showing how God directs and leads the ways of people. He was followed by Rev. J. J. Balzer with a sermon on Amos 2:6 and Luke 12:6 and 7. After talking about the first impressions the accident made upon him, the speaker tried to draw a comparison with the experience of Job, Joseph and other characters. Rev. Balzer repeated the thought of his message in English. The same was done with the obituary.

By far the largest gathering assembled in the Park where the Rev. D. A. Regier, H. H. Flaming and H. H. Regier addressed the crowd; Mr. Flaming speaking in the English language. Their thoughts were mostly concentrated upon the seriousness of life, and the speakers admonishment to be prepared for eternity.

John N. Fast was born May 9th, 1892 on a farm in Carson Township. His father Gerhard J. Fast died eight years after the boy was born. Six other children were left with the widow who gave them her best attention. In 1914 Mr. Fast upon confession of his faith was baptized and became a member of the Bethel Church. In 1915, May 16th, he married Miss Catherine Janzen, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. J. Janzen. In the ten years of happy conjugal life three daughters were born to them, the oldest one died in its infancy.