GAST, George J. 1922-2002
GAST, PAULSON
Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/5/2009 at 11:44:09
#1:
George J. Gast, age 79, died on Saturday, May 11, 2002, at his home in Osage.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m., on Thursday, May 16, at the First United Methodist Church, Osage. Rev. Karen Nichols Dungan will officiate. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery in Osage. Visitation is from 4-8:00 p.m., on Wednesday, at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Osage and one hour before the services at the church.
George was born on October 20, 1922 in rural Nora Springs, the son of Clifford and Alma (Paulson) Gast. He went to country school through the 8th grade and attended the Osage Community Schools, graduating in 1940 as Class Valedictorian. He then attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agricultural Education.
George excelled at sports in high school and college. In 1940 he was the State Champion Wrestler and discus thrower. At Iowa State University he earned eight athletic letters in track and field, football and wrestling. He was the 1943 NCAA champion javelin thrower. After graduation from college George coached and taught vocational agricultural in the Osage High School from 1944 to 1948. During this period he met Violette Lester and they were united in marriage on February 26, 1946 in Hampton, Iowa. In 1948 he purchased the Osage Feed and Seed Company which he owned and operated until his retirement at the end of 1984. George and Vi enjoyed many winters during their retirement in St. Petersburg, Florida.
George was a Sunday School teacher at the First United Methodist Church in Osage for many years and also served a term on the Osage Community School Board. He was an avid golfer and won a club championship in three different decades. He enjoyed his weekly golf matches with friends. George was also a checker player. He enjoyed playing against some of the nation’s best players when he and Vi wintered in St. Petersburg. He was the Iowa State Checker Champion a number of years. In 1993 George was inducted into the “Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame” and in April of 2002 he was inducted into “The Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame” in Cresco, Iowa. George was a man of great character and integrity and a wonderful husband and father, who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
Preceding George in death were his parents, Clifford and Alma Gast; a brother, Clyndon Gast; one niece, Nancy Gast; and one nephew, Jerry Gast.
Gast is survived by his wife, Violette of Osage; three sons, Charles Gast of New York City, Gary Gast and his wife, Kari of Osage and John Gast of New York City; two grandchildren, Luke and Amber Gast of Osage; two step-grandchildren, Kasandra and Arthur Schwab of Osage; two brothers, Dick Gast and wife, Lyla of Osage and Bill Gast and his wife, Colleen of Nora Springs; one sister, Marlys Wegman and her husband, Clarence of Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota; and many nieces and nephews.
The Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, Inc. was in charge of the arrangements.
Mitchell County Press - May 15, 2002
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#2:
GEORGE J. GAST
OSAGE - George J. Gast, 79, of Osage, died Saturday (May 11, 2002) at his home in Osage.
George was born on Oct. 20, 1922, in rural Nora Springs, the son of Clifford and Alma (Paulson) Gast. He went to country school through the eighth grade and attended Osage Community Schools, graduating in 1940 as class valedictorian. George then attended Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa, and graduated in 1944 with a Bachelor of Science degree in Agricultural Education.
George excelled at sports in high school and college. In 1940 he was the state champion wrestler and discus thrower.
At Iowa State University, George earned eight athletic letters in track and field, football and wrestling. He was the 1943 NCAA champion javelin thrower.
After graduation from college, George coached and taught vocational agriculture at Osage High School from 1944 to 1948. During this period he met Violette Lester and they were united in marriage on Feb. 2, 1946, in Hampton, Iowa.
In 1948 he purchased the Osage Feed and Seed Company which he owned and operated until his retirement at the end of 1984. George and Vi enjoyed many winters during their retirement in St. Petersburg, Fla.
George was a Sunday School teacher at the First United Methodist Church in Osage for many years and also served a term on the Osage Community School Board.
George was an avid golfer and won a club championship in three different decades. He enjoyed his weekly golf matches with friends. George was also a checkers player. He enjoyed playing against some of the nations best players when he and Vi wintered in St. Petersburg. He was the Iowa state checkers champion a number of years.
In 1993 George was inducted into the Iowa High School Wrestling Hall of Fame and in April of 2002 he was inducted into the Iowa Wrestling Hall of Fame in Cresco, Iowa.
George was a man of great character and integrity and a wonderful husband and father, who will be sadly missed by his family and friends.
George is survived by his wife, Violette, of Osage; three sons, Charles Gast, of New York City; Gary Gast and his wife, Kari, of Osage, and John Gast of New York City; two grandchildren, Luke and Amber Gast, of Osage; two stepgrandchildren, Kasandra and Arthur Schwab, of Osage; two brothers, Dick Gast and his wife, Lyla of Osage, and Bill Gast and his wife, Colleen, of Nora Springs; one sister, Marlys Wegman and her husband, Clarence, of Inver Grove Heights, Minn.; and many nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Clifford and Alma Gast; a brother, Clyndon Gast; one niece, Nancy Gast; and one nephew, Jerry Gast.
Funeral services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday at the First United Methodist church, 819 Main St. in Osage with the Rev. Karen Nichols Dungan, officiating. Interment will be at the Osage Cemetery in Osage.
Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, 702 State St. in Osage, and one hour prior to services at the church.
Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.
Globe Gazette, May 14, 2002
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#3:Photo from MITCHELL COUNTY PICTORIAL ATLAS, 1977.
Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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