Delbert Fast

Delbert Allan Fast
January 22, 1941 – January 26, 2025

Delbert Allan Fast was born in a fierce blizzard on January 22, 1941 in Jackson, Minnesota. The doctor was waylaid by the storm while Frank and Frieda Fast delivered their 14-pound son at home. His diaper froze to the bed that night.

Undeterred by that Minnesota winter or any other, Del developed a deep love of nature. Growing up, he loved camping, hunting, and fishing with family and friends. After graduating from Jackson High School, he attended Bethel University in St. Paul before transferring to the University of Minnesota to pursue marine biology. In his early twenties, he and a buddy toured the Western United States in a blue Volkswagen Beetle; they saved money by sleeping outdoors, even in desolate Death Valley.

In 1964, Del enlisted in the US Air Force. Assigned to the Security Service, he undertook intensive Russian language study at Indiana University. There, he bookishly flirted with Peggy Jean Burns in the study lounge, and three months later married her on January 23, 1965. Just before his passing, Del and Peggy celebrated sixty years of marriage.

From 1965 to 1968, Del and Peggy lived in Misawa, Japan, an experience that profoundly shaped their lives. Upon returning, they settled in Peggy’s hometown of Plymouth, Indiana where their son, Todd, was born. In 1976, they moved to what is now known as Westlake, Texas, near Keller—then just 3,000 residents.

Del pursued a lifelong passion for wood and woodworking. He became a manufacturer’s representative for Indiana Frame & Moulding, frequently traveling to visit galleries and other clients, whereupon he always returned home with a gift for Todd. In the 1980s, he founded Overwalls, Inc., designing and crafting furniture sold to customers nationwide. After selling Overwalls, he had myriad pursuits, including taking one-of-a-kind commissions as a master carpenter, restoring antique cars, and researching genealogy. Relentlessly curious and creative throughout his life, Del filled his and Peggy’s home with eclectic treasures both collected and created by him.

Del was a dedicated school volunteer, assisting Peggy and the staff of Bear Creek Intermediate School tirelessly. He served as president of Keller Lions Club, and was a member of the North Texas chapter of the Hudson-Essex-Terraplane Club. He found spiritual solace and community at Keller United Methodist Church, joining the congregation in 1977.

Del’s greatest joy was his role as a husband, father, and grandfather, in which he embodied kindness and generosity, warmth and love in every interaction. He is survived by his wife, Peggy Jean Fast; his son, Todd Alan Fast; his daughter-in-law, Fang Lu; his grandson, Leander Lu Fast; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Frieda; his brother, Alfred Fast; and his sister, Leona Fast Dickinson.

A celebration of Del’s life will be held on February 7, 2025 at 11am at Keller United Methodist Church, 1025 Johnson Rd, Keller, TX 76248. He will be interred in Oakhill Cemetery in Plymouth, Indiana near Peggy’s childhood home. In lieu of flowers or other gifts, you may donate in Del’s name to the Endowment at Keller United Methodist Church (https://www.kellerumc.org/about-us/endowment/) or to a Parkinson’s disease charity such as The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (https://www.michaeljfox.org/) or The Parkinson’s Foundation (https://www.parkinson.org/).