Frank Fast

December 14, 1940 — September 2, 2025

Frank L. Fast, age 84, passed away peacefully at his home on September 2, 2025.

He was born on December 14, 1940, to Katherine (Schroeder) Fast and Frank Elmer Fast in Deer Park, Washington. Frank was the 2nd of 10 children and the oldest son.

At thirteen, he lived with an elderly couple, during the week, to work on their dairy farm. He would return home on the weekends, to spend time with his family. He gave his father most of his monthly earnings from the farm to help support his young brothers and sisters. During high school in Lynden Washington, he played tenor saxophone and was in the marching band. Later in life, he and his dad would play duets on their harmonicas.

After graduating from Lynden High School in 1959, he attended LeTourneau College in Long View, Texas where he studied electrical engineering. God had been in his life for many years, but now he clearly felt that God wanted him to serve in missions, and he transferred to Grace Bible Institute in Omaha, Nebraska. While at Grace, he met the love of his life, Carolyn Pankratz. While on a hayrack ride, they shared their desire to serve the Lord and others. On August 9, 1963, they joined their lives in marriage. They enjoyed life together for 62 years, 3 weeks and 3 days of serving God, loving their family and sharing Jesus with people. Frank and Carolyn's mutual desire was to serve in Mali, West Africa. In preparation of this service, Frank attended Biola College in Los Angeles, California where he studied tropical medicine.

In January 1964, Frank and Carolyn attended Gospel Missionary Union candidate program preparing for ministry in Mali, West Africa. They first moved to Switzerland for 18 months to study French and then landed in Mali, in February 1968. Their first years were spent mastering the Bambara language, sharing Jesus, church planting and medical care of the people in the surrounding villages. In 1974, Frank became the field director, moving to the capital, Bamako. There he took on administrative responsibilities, built relationships with local political leaders, and church planting together with the local church at N'torokorobugu.

In January of 1985, Frank and Carolyn left the 120-degree weather of Mail to continue to serve God at Hutterthal Mennonite Church in Carpenter, SD where the winters are known to be -60 degrees. Frank served as the pastor at Hutterthal for 12 years. He loved teaching God's word but also continued to focus on individual relationships and could often be found helping with farming or construction projects to help his neighbors and church members.

After leaving South Dakota, he served those in recovery programs as a discipleship counselor at Haven of Hope in Wichita, Kansas and Open Door Mission in Omaha, Nebraska.

His heart was for those in need, so ending his career at Hospice With Heart (for 13 years) was pure joy. He gently supported people by praying, reading the scripture that he loved, telling stories and playing his harmonica.

Learning to know God and serving others was important, but oh how he loved his family. Frank and Carolyn had five daughters, Cindy, Tammy, Teri Lynn, Heidi and Sheila and they married five men (Randy, Ken, Brad, Scott, and Sam). Then came the 10 grandsons (Jamison, Ryan, Tyler, Bradley, Aaron, Aidan, Nathan, Jager, Sam and Tobin) and 5 granddaughters (Kasey, Alyssa, April, Sienna and Natalie) and their spouses (Sidney, Reggy, Beth, Aspen, Josh, Nathan and Anthony). And finally, those great grandchildren that just keep adding.

His legacy will be his delight in worship, spending time with Jesus and the Bible, his focus on relationships with people and his great great love for his family.

Recently, a caregiver came running in to check on him and true to form he cleared his throat, chuckled and reassured her, "I'm alive, still!" And that is what he would say to us today, he is more alive than he has ever been.

Glory to God for He holds us fast!

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Kathy Pretzel and Mary Kay Fast.

Frank is survived by his wife of 62 years, Carolyn Fast; children, Cindy Shogren (Randy), Tammy Friesen (Ken), TeriLynn Schrag (Brad), Heidi Fast Klaassen (Scott), and Sheila Schmidt (Sam); siblings, Vivian Roberts, Clifford Fast (Jane), Agnes Thiessen (Orval), Chris Sorenson, Frieda Koehn (Butch), Don Fast (Elsie), and Betty Martinson (Bud); grandchildren and great great grandchildren; nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Memorial Service will be held at 10:00 AM at Citylight Church Midtown on Saturday, September 13, 2025.

Special Thanks - Words will never be able to express our thanks and gratitude to St. Croix Hospice, Mike Hoy, CityLight Church and Elissa Vilter.

Memorials are suggested to:

Avant Ministries

10000 N Oak Trafficway KansasCity MO 64155

https://avantministries.org/give

Frank Fast Memorial Project ID #72042

Malian Pastors

SAT-7

SAT-7 is Middle East and North Africa broadcast media ministry

SAT-7 PO Box 5039, Boone, IA 50950-0039

http://www.sat7usa.org/give