Peter Gerhard Fast, died on Thursday, Aug. 9, 2012, at 2:45 p.m. in Bluffton, Ohio, after succumbing to a rare neurological disorder, known as Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) or Shy-Dragers.
Mr. Fast was born on April 28, 1925, north of Chinook, Montana, but his family soon moved to Mt. Lake, Minnesota, where he grew up on the family farm. He was the youngest of nine children.
On Aug. 22, 1948, he married Genevieve Elaine Buhler and she survives. Mr. Fast earned several degrees: Bachelor's of Arts at Goshen College in 1949, a Master of Arts in Education from Ball State Teachers College in 1953, and a Doctorate of Education from Indiana University on September 9, 1957.
He took a position at California State University, Fresno where he taught in the School of Education for 30 years. He earned the title of Professor Emeritus when he retired. Soon after, he moved to Neuwied, Germany, with his wife, Genevieve, and they spent several years assisting Mennonite Central Committee in its work of resettling refugees after the Berlin Wall fell.
Mr. Fast is survived by his wife, Genevieve, his four children and their spouses--Cheryl Berz, Dohn and Jeanette Fast, Gary and Taci Fast, and Janita and Richard Rawls-- 10 grandchildren, one great-grandchild, and numerous nephews and nieces.
A memorial service is planned in Bluffton, Sept. 1, at 2 p.m. at First Mennonite Church. In lieu of flowers, the family requests gifts be donated to Mennonite Central Committee, Goshen College, or Mennonite Home Communities of Ohio.
Online condolences may be expressed at www.chiles-lamanfh.com.