Mark E. Gast, age 53, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Sunday, June 12, 2016, at the local hospital, after being diagnosed with cancer in January 2016. Funeral services will be held on Friday, June 17, 2016, at 10:30 a.m. at Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer in Watertown. Rev. Kent Stillson will officiate. Music will be provided by A.J. Sherrill as organist with Nick Gast and Gene Lohan as vocalists. The family is requested to meet at 10:00 a.m. at the church on Friday for a family prayer service.
Visitation will be held at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 4-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church.
Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be his friends and co-workers from 3M. Active pallbearers will be: Mike Appelhof, Rob Appelhof, Rod Borkhuis, Mark Vogt, Tim Peterson, Matt Foerster and Keith Hyink.
Mark was born on January 7, 1963, in Minneapolis, MN, to Roger and Margaret (Jensen) Gast. After graduating in 1981 from Arlington High School, Mark attended Dakota State University in Madison, SD.
On October 5, 1985, Mark was united in marriage to Kristi Appelhof in Watertown, SD. The couple lived in Watertown where Mark worked at Champion Auto. They moved to Fergus Falls, MN, and Mark started his employment with 3M in Wahpeton, ND. After moving back to Watertown, he transferred to 3M in Brookings, SD, where he was employed at the time of his death.
He was a member of Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer and a member of the Elks. He enjoyed golfing, hunting, playing cards, gardening and target shooting. He liked to cook, travel and do anything outdoors. When his sons were in Boy Scouts, Mark was also very active in scouting. He served as Scoutmaster of Troop 209 for many years and helped both of his sons achieve the rank of Eagle Scout. Mark was a family man through and through and enjoyed spending time with both his immediate and extended family. He was especially proud of his sons.
Mark is survived by his wife, Kristi, of Watertown; two sons, Alex (Amanda Larson) Gast of Blaine, MN, and Nick Gast of Milbank, SD; his mother, Margaret Gast, of Watertown; and two sisters, Carol (Brian) Melchiori of Lake Elmo, MN, and Karen (Ali Ghiasi) Gast of Cupertino, CA.
He was preceded in death by his father and one brother, Wayne.
Service Details.
Visitation
When: June 16, 2016 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Location: Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel
Address: 208 3rd St SW De Smet SD SD 57231
Service
When: June 17, 2016 10:30am
Location: Lutheran Church of Our Redeemer
Address: 2001 2nd Street West Watertown SD Watertown, SD 57201
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