GAST, Violette D. (nee Lester) 1923-2003

GAST, LESTER

Posted By: County Coordinator
Date: 2/10/2009 at 15:50:44

#1:

OSAGE, IOWA - Violette Lester Gast bid goodbye to this earth while catching the afternoon breezes on July 23, 2003.

She was born to Charles E. and Ida Belle (Pat) Lester on the family farm near Hampton on a crisp, clear November day. She was delivered by Dr. Joseph Sams, whose family would play a big part in the lives of Vi and her family all her years in Osage.

She attended school in Hansell. Growing up, her father instilled a love of horses in her and she became an amazing horsewoman. Riding was her passion.

She played basketball in high school and was a starter on the 1940 Hansell High School team that won the Iowa State Girls Basketball Championship that year. She also hit the books and was valedictorian of her senior class.

She attended Drake University for one year, then transferred to the University of Iowa, from which she graduated. While there, she was an active member of the Zeta Tau Alpha social sorority. By attending summer classes, she was able to graduate in three years with a degree in what was then called commercial education. That invol-ved teaching typing, shorthand and business skills.

Fresh out of college at 19, she took a job in Osage. A year later, a young, handsome teacher/coach named George Gast entered her life. He'd had quite an academic and athletic history himself while at Iowa State. They bickered, sparred and dated sporadically. Vi had broken one engagement and was currently en-gaged to someone else, but there was something about George. She signed a contract to teach in Sante Fe, N.M., the fall of 1945, just as World War II was ending. After she got there, she decided she really did love the guy.

So, after 50 letters, numerous long-distance calls and quite the adventure in Santa Fe, Vi ended her contract at the semester. She and George married on that most romantic of holidays, February 2, Groundhog Day!

As she'd been to very few big weddings during the more austere war years, she only had royal weddings from news-reels and magazines to emulate. So, in a white satin gown and with five bridesmaids in assorted pale sherbet colors, the Princess got her Prince.

After some great years getting to know each other, Charles Lester Gast was born in 1952 followed by George Gary Gast in 1957 and finally John Clifford Gast in December 1958.

Vi retired from teaching but worked in the bank in Osage for a number of years. George quit teaching and coaching and started Osage Feed and Seed. Vi handled the kids, house, gardens and all the bookkeeping for the business. Vi was a member of PEO and chaired numerous charities and committees for Osage and the United Meth-odist Church.

She even took up golf as she figured with George, "If you can't beat 'em, join 'em." She eventually got so good at it that she won the Sunny Brae Ladies Club Champion-ship in 1977.

George and Vi were quite social and very active in the Sunny Brae Country Club. He loved golf and to dance. She learned to follow his lead (to a point!). She loved to spend time and laugh with her gal pals, and her two bridge clubs went on for de-cades. Vi was renowned for her taste, style and beauty and a natural, approachable elegance that made everyone feel that they each, personally, were the center of her attention.

When George retired, they began a whole new phase, spending winters in St. Peters-burg, Fla. But they couldn't stay too long each winter as they would desperately miss their grandchildren, Luke and Amber Gast.

Vi took great care of George after he was nearly killed in a car accident in 1956 and spent months and months nurturing him back to health. He in turn was her rock when she developed Alzheimer's disease in her final years. They were two swans mated for life, and now, finally, together again.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at the First United Methodist Church in Osage with the Rev. Karen Nichols Dungan officiating. Interment will be in the Osage Cemetery.

Visitation will be from 5 to 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home in Osage and continue one hour before services at the church.

Champion-Bucheit Funeral Home, (641) 732-3706.

[Mason City Globe Gazette]

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#2:
Social Security Death Index:

GAST, VIOLETTE D.
b: 17 Nov 1923
d: 23 Jul 2003 (Verified)
age: 79
res: 50461 (Osage, Mitchell, IA)
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#3:
Photo from MITCHELL COUNTY PICTORIAL ATLAS, 1977.

Mitchell Obituaries maintained by Sharyl Ferrall.
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