Fast, Katharina Peters (1884-1957)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1957 Dec 19 p. 8

Birth date: 1884 Jan 13

text of obituary:

MRS. KATHARINA FAST

I, Katharina Fast, was born on Jan. 13, 1884, near Henderson, Neb. My parents were Gerhard and Anna (nee Kroeker) Peters. They were both born in South Russia, came to America in 1877 and settled near Henderson.

When I was two years old I lost my mother through death. God was good to us and father soon found another mother for us. She was indeed a very kind and dear mother to me.

In 1897 my parents with their family moved to Butler County, Kansas. It was here that I experienced pioneer life and received some grade school training. In 1897 we moved to Inman, Kansas. Here I had the privilege of having Prof. Henry W. Lohrenz as a teacher for some time.

Rev. N. N. Hiebert came to the Inman community in 1898 to conduct evangelistic services, and I rejoice that as a 14-year-old girl I was privileged to receive Christ as my own person Saviour from sin. That same year I followed my Lord into the baptismal waters with Rev. John Esau officiating, and became a member of the Zoar K. M. B. Church.

I had the joy of attending a Christian Bible Academy for some time in Hillsboro, Kansas. In 1909 I entered the Goessel Hospital as a student and received more than two years of nurses training. I spent several years in this work.

I came to Reedley, Calif. in 1912 and found many Christian friends here. In 1914 I affiliated with the local Mennonite Brethren Church and have received many blessings in this fellowship.

On August 14, 1914, I joined hands in holy matrimony with Jacob F. Fast and therewith assumed the responsibility of being a mother to his four children, Goldie, William, Bertha, and Alvina. Our union was blessed with one son, Orville.

The Lord has given much grace and many blessings to us as a family. In 1925, I was seriously ill for a long period of time and seemingly could not get well until the “elders” of the church prayed over me. I was wonderfully healed in answer to their prayers of faith.

In 1945 my dear husband died after a long illness. In 1954, our daughter Bertha, Mrs. Drake after suffering severely for a long time, was taken from us by death.

I must here mention Rev. George B. Huebert, to whom I owe a great debt of gratitude, and who as a faithful pastor and friend has stood by nobly helping wherever he could.

My favorite song is “Meine Heimat is dort in der Hoeh” and the verses of John 14:2-3 are a source of much comfort and joy to me.

At present I am living in my home at 1331 South Avenue, Reedley, Calif. and sharing my home with such as need a home and Christian fellowship.

(Signed: Katharina Fast — written May 19, 1955)

The next two and one half years brought out dear mother more trials and sufferings. Her ailment was an internal cancer. While she was strong enough, she enjoyed to visit and fellowship with other saints. She loved the church and gladly attended the services whenever she could. For more than a year she made her home in the Reedley M. B. Home for the Aged.

The last two weeks the suffering was great and on the night of Nov. 29, 1957, she could leave her body suffering and take her flight [sic phrase duplicated in original] to the region of bliss and happiness, year into the very presence of Christ her Redeemer. She reached the age of 73 years, 10 months and 16 days.

She leaves to mourn her departure two sons and two daughters, Goldie, Mrs. Pete F. Ratzlaff, Reedley, Calif., William Fast of Los Angeles, Calif., Alvina, Mrs. Elmer W. Callison of Reedley, Calif., and Orville Fast of Dinuba, Calif.; two sons-in-law, two daughters-in-law; seven grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren; five brothers and five sisters, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services for Mrs. Fast were held Dec. 3 in the Reedley Mennonite Brethren Church with Rev. Dan Friesen and Rev. H. R. Wiens officiating. — The Family.