Marjorie M. Fast
DE FOREST- Marjorie M. Fast, age 94, of DeForest, passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and friends on Tuesday,April 3, 2012.
She was born on July 12, 1917, on a farm near Centerville, S.D., the only child of Alexander and Elizabeth (Dunlop) McMurchie. In her early years the family moved to Long Beach, Calif. They made an almost-yearly summer trip back to Iowa and South Dakota, often by car, until the beginning of her junior year of high school when they moved to Battle Creek, Iowa.
After graduating high school, she attended the St. Paul Bible Institute in St. Paul, Minn. It was there she met Leander Fast and the two of them were married on Sept. 19, 1942, in Battle Creek, Iowa. He was a pastor and they served churches in Upper Michigan, Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin. In 1980 they retired together on a small farm outside of Richland Center where they lived until Leander’s death in 1990. During those years she and Leander made their “Hillside House of Praise and Prayer” a welcome oasis for family and friends who journeyed to the Wisconsin hills for encouragement and refreshment from the daily struggles of life. Upon Leander’s death, Marjorie moved into her own home in Boscobel. There she continued her love of travel, enjoying several cruises and European tours with her children and grandchildren. She lived up to her saying “if there is a wheel turning I’m ready to go” with joy and a spirit of adventure. Marjorie lived in Boscobel until the summer of 2008, when she moved with her son and daughter-in-law to Groton, Conn., and then in early 2010 to the Madison area.
She was involved in serving her Savior and was very supportive of her husband and their church ministries. Marjorie excelled in using her musical gifts. She played the French horn, piano, and organ and used those skills in ministry in high school, college, and as a pastor’s wife. During her later retirement years she spent much time in prayer for her family and friends. Marjorie loved to watch football and enjoyed making pies and cooking for her grandchildren and great-grandchildren whom she loved deeply.
She is survived by her sons, Douglas (Carol) Fast and William (Virginia) Fast; five grandchildren, Cameron (Lisa) Fast, Gregory Fast, Spencer (Katherine) Fast, Jason (Stephanie) Fast and Michelle (Justin) Redfield; and her great-grandchildren, Allison, Gehrig, Madison, Caleb, Liana, Chloe, Logan and Lincoln Fast. Marjorie was preceded in death by her parents; husband; and granddaughter-in-law, Heide Swaine.
Memorial services will be held at TRINITY EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH, 1425 10th Street, Fennimore, at 2 p.m., on Saturday, May 5, 2012, with the Rev. Kevin Dick presiding.
Burial will take place at Wakonda Union Cemetery in Wakonda, South Dakota.
Marjorie’s family would like to express a special thank you to Bob and the late Barbara Campbell in Groton, Conn., who ministered to Marjorie. They would also like to thank the staff at Walnut Grove Assisted Living in DeForest and the caregivers from Southern Care Hospice for all the support and compassion they gave Marjorie.
