Curtis Fast

Curtis Fast, 83, of Marion passed away on May 10th at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, May 16th at 10:30 am at Bethesda Church of rural Marion with burial in the Schartner Mennonite Cemetery. A time of lunch and fellowship will follow the graveside service at the church. 

The service can be watched here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZKsSxXCJCA

Curtis Glenn Fast was born July 9, 1940 to Jacob & Lydia (Kunkel) Fast of rural Freeman, SD.  He enjoyed growing up on a farm with sisters, Loraine & Mildred, and brother, Gilbert.    As a child, he answered the Pastor’s invitation and accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior.  He chose to be baptized by immersion in Silver Lake located across the road from his home church Silver Lake Mennonite Brethren.

He attended Sunflower country school District #68 during his elementary school years.   He continued with his high school education at Freeman Academy where he excelled in sports.  Later, he joked often how his track coach called him “Mr. Quick”.  He held the pole vault record his senior year until a fiberglass pole was introduced the following year much to his disappointment.  After graduation, he attended Tabor College in Hillsboro, KS having earned a track & field scholarship.

On June 12, 1964, he was united in marriage to the love of his life, Patricia Ann Waltner.  They were to celebrate their 60^th wedding anniversary this coming June.  They were blessed with four children:  Julie, Garret, Evan & Dana.

He served 2 years of 1-W service in Oregon.  He began his work career driving a gravel truck for KPK Sand Company based in rural Freeman.  He also drove a truck for Burns in Parker delivering Moorman Feed for a number of years.  When that company moved to Alexandria, SD, he began his 42-year career at the Farmers Cooperative in Marion.  He drove feed truck, ran the grain elevator, managed the feed mill location in Marion, and drove truck for the Freeman mill during his many years there.

His hobbies included many home remodeling projects, singing bass in church quartets and groups, serving on various church boards, and passing down his many handyman and life skills to his kids and grandkids.

Family life included many vacations, motorcycling trips, holiday get-togethers, numerous visits to extended family, and camping often especially after retirement. In 2003, he was diagnosed with cancer and had a difficult battle which he won in 2005.

Grateful for having shared his life are: his wife, Patricia, daughter Julie Mattson, son Garret (Cindy) Fast, son Evan (Audrey) Fast, and daughter Dana Gortmaker along with 11 grandchildren: Josh, Ashley, Brady, Michaela, Nick, Elizabeth, Carson, Kylie, Allison, Alexa and Macy; 14 great grandchildren; sister Mildred Hofer, brother Gilbert Fast, and many nieces and nephews.

Celebrating with him in heaven are: brother-in-law, Roland Hofer, sister and brother-in-law, Elmer and Loraine Ortman, and sister-in-law, Mary Ann Fast.