Orlando Fast
1925 - 2019
Obituary
Orlando J. Fast, 93, died Sunday (Jan.
20, 2019) at Kidron Bethel, North Newton.
He was born Sept. 17, 1925, in Goessel,
to Peter B. and Helena (Balzer) Fast. He was the eighth of nine
children. His paternal grandparents were Isaac Fast (b. Aug. 10,
1859, Lichtfelde, South Russia, now Ukraine) and Susanna Wedel (b.
Aug. 25, 1850, Alexanderwohl, South Russia). His maternal
grandparents were Peter Baltzer (b. Sept. 9, 1842, Alexanderwohl,
South Russia) and Maria Schmidt, (b. Jan 20, 1846, Alexanderwohl,
South Russia). All of Orlando's grandparents immigrated between 1874
and 1879 to the Goessel area. Orlando grew up on his family farm west
and south of Goessel that his father built on land that his
grandfather, Isaac, had settled.
Orlando attended Gordon grade school
and Goessel High School. After his eighth grade year, he remodeled
the kitchen of his family's house. He was enterprising and upgraded
the milking operation on their farm to be able to sell milk
commercially. He took mechanical drawing classes and built beautiful
woodworking projects in high school, graduating in 1943.
After high school he helped on the
family farm and then, starting in 1947, he worked for a carpenter and
was a keen observer of how things were built. He did framing and
sheetrock work, as well as finish carpentry and cabinet-making. Later
in his life, he was more known for his house painting and interior
wood-finishing work. All of these building skills allowed him to add
two rooms onto the farmhouse for his own family and to renovate the
entire rest of their house.
In 1947, Orlando met Maxine Ruth on a
blind date arranged by Alice Dirks (who was dating and eventually
married Orlando's brother, Irvin). On the way to Hutchinson to see a
circus, a wheel came off of Orlando's car. The broken-down car had to
be towed to a farmer's yard and Orlando's father was called from
Goessel to come to the rescue. The foursome was escorted home
together with Orlando's sister, who had come along for the ride. This
was an unforgettable experience for all because there were not enough
seats in the car for everyone and Maxine had to sit on Orlando's lap
for the trip home.
Maxine and Orlando were married on
March 20, 1949, and after living in Goessel for one year, they moved
to Maxine's family farm near Moundridge. They became members of the
West Zion Mennonite Church, Moundridge, in 1954. Their family grew to
include four children: Barbara, Arlen, Russell and Galen.
As a couple, Orlando and Maxine enjoyed
traveling, especially to visit their children wherever they lived.
They also participated in various voluntary service programs.
In 1992, Orlando and Maxine made the
decision to leave the farm and move to North Newton, where they
joined the Bethel College Mennonite Church. In 1999, they celebrated
their 50th wedding anniversary. In 2011, they moved to Kidron Bethel
in North Newton. At the time of Maxine's death in 2017, they had been
married 68 years.
Orlando enjoyed singing throughout his
life and sang for many years with the 500 Mennonite Men's Chorus. He
served his community in many ways, including being on the board of
directors of Memorial Home, Pine Village in Moundridge, helping do
finish work on a number of houses built for MCC's House Against
Hunger Program, and various MDS and voluntary service terms in South
America, Pennsylvania, Colorado and Kansas. He was also a Deacon at
Bethel College Mennonite Church, delivered Meals on Wheels and
volunteered at Sunset Elementary School's reading program. One of the
legacies he leaves to his children and grandchildren are all of the
fine woodworking pieces, quilts and needlepoint items he made for
them over the past decades.
Orlando was preceded in death by his
wife, Maxine, in 2017; his sisters, Linda, Adina and Elda; and his
brothers: Anton, Arnold, Marvin (at age 10) and Irvin.
Survivors include his sister, Ruth
Reather of Tulsa, Oklahoma; his daughter, Barbara of Norman,
Oklahoma; and sons, Arlen and his wife Anne Ediger of Teaneck, New
Jersey, Russell and his wife Irma of Dickinson, North Dakota, and
Galen and his wife Cindy of Wichita. He is also survived by five
grandchildren: Elise, Jonathan, Renee, Evan and Sarah Fast.
Burial will be at 9:30 a.m. Friday
(Jan. 25, 2019) at the Goessel Mennonite Church cemetery and a
memorial service will follow at 11 a.m. at Bethel College Mennonite
Church in North Newton, with Pastors Dawn Yoder Harms and Susan
Wheeler presiding. Visitation will be 5 to 9 p.m. Thursday (Jan. 24,
2019) at Petersen Funeral Home, with the family receiving friends
from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorials are suggested to Bethel
College Mennonite Church or Mennonite Missions Network in care of
Petersen Funeral Home.
