Fast, William D. (1851-1938)

Mennonite Weekly Review obituary: 1938 Feb 23 p. 3

Birth date: 1851 Oct 4

text of obituary:

William D. Fast

William D. Fast, son of William and Mary Fast was born October 4, 1851, in Wolla Wozinska, New Russia, and died February 5th, 1938. He was baptised upon the confession of faith in the Lord Jesus Christ on June 20, 1867 in the land of his birth and received into the fellowship of the Mennonite Church.

He emigrated to America May 20th, 1874, with a colony led by Reverend William Ewert, and located in the vicinity of Sommerfield [sic Summerfield], Illinois. Late in 1874 he came to Kansas and made his home at Hillsboro. From there he moved to Harvey county and alter to Moundridge, where he has lived for the past 18 years.

February 12th, 1884, he was united in marriage with Minne Miller. He was privileged to live in this wedlock nearly 54 years, for if he had lived just one week longer he could have celebrated his 54th wedding anniversary. On February 12th, 1934 he and his wife celebrated their golden Wedding Anniversary.

To this union were born 11 children, all of whom survived him, except one daughter, Elizabeth, who preceded him in death October 28th, 1900. In view of the large family a noteworthy record was established in that no death occurred within the immediate family circle in 38 years, except for the death of one grand-grandchild, Richard Sheldon Vogt, who died in infancy in 1937.

Mr. Fast was the last of a family of seven children, two stepbrothers, John and Frank Ewert, two sisters, who died in infancy, and two other sisters, Mrs. Mary Dahlem and Mrs. Anna Dettweiler. He reached the ripe old age of 86 years, 4 months and 1 day. He was a faithful member of the West Zion Mennonite church and was very anxious and prepared to go to his Heavenly home.

He leaves to mourn his departure his bereaved widow, ten children, Mary Schmidt of Exeter, Calif.; Anna Vogt and Will of Moundridge; Albert of Cord, Ark.; Lena Galle of Woodlake, Calif.; Emma Jones and Edwin of Newton, Kansas; Alice Ransom of Iola, Kansas; and Florence Dirks of Ames, Iowa; six sons-in-law, Menno Schmidt, Wesley Vogt, George Jones, Hugo Galle, W. A. Ransom, and I. T. Dirks; two daughters-in-law, Mrs. Carrie Fast and Mrs. Mary Fast; twenty-four grandchildren; five brothers-in-law, Pete Miller,, Hugo, Colo., Edward Miller,Halstead, Kans.; Dan Berger, Partridge, Kans.; and John Quiring, Hillsboro, Kans.; one sister-in-law, Amelia Hubin, Warwick, N. D. and many other relatives and friends.

Funeral services were conducted by Rev. P. K. Regier Feb. 8, at the West Zion Mennonite church. He was assisted by Rev. Herbert Miller of Deer Creek, Okla., a nephew of the family.

The Mennonite obituary: 1938 Mar 1 p. 14