Sept. 20, 1920 — July 30, 2015

Senator Harry T. Gast, 94, of St. Joseph, Michigan, passed away Thursday, July 30, 2015, at his home.

A celebration of life service will begin at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 3, at Starks & Menchinger Chapel and Cremation Services, 2650 Niles Road, St. Joseph. Burial will follow at Riverview Cemetery in St. Joseph, Michigan. Friends may visit from 2 until 4 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 2, 2015, at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, those wishing to make a memorial donation in memory of Harry may do so to Lake Michigan College, Glen Oaks College, Southwestern Michigan College or Gogebic College; or to the charity of your choice. Those wishing to share a memory of Senator Harry online may do so at www.starks-menchinger.com.

Harry was born Sept. 20, 1920, in St. Joseph to Harry T. and Fern (Shearer) Gast. Harry grew up on the family farm, which used draft horses. One winter the snow was so high that Harry and his brothers and sister dug a tunnel from the old house to the barn so they could travel the tunnel to do their chores.

While still living in the old house, he watched the new brick house being built. The house he remained in and where, with the help of his grandsons Nick and Tom, he was able to stay until he died.

Harry married Vera Jean Warren on June 6, 1943. A young Harry played softball on Planger’s team in the 1950s, and enjoyed fishing, hunting and trapping. The hunting became his yearly trip to the Upper Peninsula that continued into his 80s. Harry took to cards, to poker and later enjoyed the casinos that came to the area.

In 1944 Alfred Bartz, the Lincoln Township Supervisor, visited Harry out in one of his fields and talked him into the job of township Treasurer. He also served on the School Board. When Al retired, Harry ran for supervisor and a trend was started. He went on to become the Lincoln Township Supervisor for seven years and then on to the Michigan House of Representatives when Don Pears retired. The Senate came 8 years later.

Weekdays in Lansing and weekends and summers on the farm kept Harry going at a fast pace and the whole family pitched in to make it work. When Harry ran in the Republican Primary for the 43rd State Representative seat everything moved up a notch with campaigning in a race with three other Republicans.

During his time in office, Harry was a staunch supporter of local education, especially community colleges. When he retired from the Senate in 2002 he had about $25,000 left in his campaign fund, which he split between four community colleges.

Harry was also an avid, if frustrated, Tigers fan. He would listen to the games on the truck radio while picking peaches or tomatoes. Harry enjoyed cars and driving, which was lucky because he pretty much lived on the roads between the farm and Lansing for many years. His car was even struck by lightning on I-94, shutting down all electronics and trapping him in the car.

Harry is survived by his wife of 72 years, Vera Jean; daughters, Linda Gast of Newport, Oregon, and Barbara (Bill) Curtis of Wheeler, Michigan; son, Dennis (Friedericke Greuer) Gast of Chassell, Michigan. He will also be missed by his grandchildren, Chris (Jen), Kelly, Nick, Tom, Becca, Skip, Jenna, and Lilli Gast, and Lisa (Matt) Wolf. Harry was preceded in death by his brothers Richard (Dick) and Lee and his sister Ellen Carpenter.