Robert “Bob” Herman Bast

BAST, BANSER, SCHNEIDER, LEVERS, WEBER, SAUNDERS, MARTIN, GRISSOM, HOVELAND, KAUNE, KRAEMER, DIERS, STEINBRONN, DIETZ, RATHBONE, WETZEL

Posted By: dbeier (email)
Date: 11/23/2008 at 12:47:20

FAIRBANK - Robert “Bob” Herman Bast, 74, of rural Fairbank, Iowa, died on Saturday, November 8, 2008 at his home.

Funeral services will be 11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 12, at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Readlyn, with burial in Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Readlyn.

Friends may call from 4 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at the Kaiser-Corson Funeral Home, Readlyn.

Robert was born Aug. 6, 1934, in Bremer County, Iowa, the son of Otto and Clara (Banser) Bast. He was raised in the Waverly area and later the Readlyn area. He graduated from Readlyn High School in 1953 and served for six years in the National Guard.

He was united in marriage to Esther Schneider on Aug. 30, 1959 at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church, Readlyn. Bob purchased his dairy farm in 1957; while farming he raised all kinds of animals. Bob and Esther farmed until his retirement in 1996.

He was a member of the Farm Bureau, DHIA, and served as a deacon at St. Matthew’s Lutheran Church for three years. He enjoyed fishing with son Mark and his wife, CarolAnn and his grandsons, hunting deer on the farm with family, and International tractors. He especially enjoyed his time with his children and grandchildren

He is survived by his wife, Esther; six children, daughter Connie (friend Ken Plotz) Levers of Keota, daughter, Bonnie (Robert) Weber of Jesup, son, Ronnie (Joyce) Bast of Aplington, daughter, Tammy (Jamey) Saunders of Oelwein, daughter, Nancy (Dale) Martin of Westgate, son, Mark (CarolAnn) Bast of Waverly; 14 grandchildren, Emily Levers, Tina Grissom, Clem Levers; Mitch, Randy and Travis Weber; Cyndel Bast, Anitia Hoveland, Crystal, Randy, and Robbie Kaune; D.J., Abby, and Brianne Martin; seven step-grandchildren, Amber, Ashley, Alisha, Aubrey, Tracy, Brandy and Steve Saunders; and four great grandchildren; one brother, Otto (Sonja) Bast Jr. of Readlyn; five sisters, Frieda Kraemer of Crown Point, Ind., Erna (Julius) Diers of Sumner, Anna (Rueben) Steinbronn of Minnesota, Edna (Burton) Dietz of Nashua, Ruth (Ron) Rathbone of Readlyn and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Lawrence Bast, one brother-in-law, Pastor Wm. C. Kraemer, and one niece Naomi (Kraemer) Wetzel.