“Well done, good and faithful servant! Enter into the joy of your Lord.”
Matthew 25:23
Mary “Jane” Fast was born on February 1, 1944, in Montezuma, Kansas. She was the sixth of eight children born to Pete and Lena Koehn. Together, Pete and Lena created a blended family after his first wife passed away unexpectedly. Lena lovingly accepted Pete’s eight children as her own. The couple then added eight more children to their home. Jane grew up surrounded by her siblings - Shirley, Pete Jr., Rose, Dean, Geneva, Clara, and Linda—as well as her older half siblings - Virgil, Sylvia, Melvin, Ervin, Dorothy, Gladys, Waymon, and Louise. Growing up in such a large family shaped Jane’s lifelong devotion to family, faith, and caring for others.
Jane spent her childhood on the family farm near Montezuma, where she learned the values of hard work, faith, and family that would shape the rest of her life.
As a young woman, Jane and one of her sisters took jobs at the hospital in Halstead KS. During that time, Delbert Fast first came to Montezuma as a fifteen-year-old. Although Jane was away working, her mother, Lena, took a special liking to Del and often welcomed him with a meal at the Koehn family's restaurant in town.
It was later that Del's best friend, Jim, and his girlfriend, Camilla, introduced Del and Jane on a double date. Their friendship quickly grew into love. After dating for a year, Del asked Pete Koehn for his blessing before proposing to Jane. They were married on October 25, 1965, at the Montezuma Methodist Church, beginning a beautiful partnership that would span just over sixty years.
Del and Jane built their first home in Halstead, Kansas. Their first son, Scott Anthony, was born on July 24, 1968, at the hospital in Newton, Kansas, followed by their second son, Jason Grant, on December 31, 1970, also in Newton.
In 1971, the family moved to Brighton, Colorado, when Del accepted a position as Production Manager for Skyline Mobile Homes. About a year later, he launched his own construction business while Jane devoted herself to raising their boys. She faithfully served both her church and community by volunteering, caring for homebound individuals, and delivering Meals on Wheels. Later, she continued her calling of caring for others through her work at Inglenook Assisted Living and as a Home Health Assistant.
No matter how busy life became, Jane never missed one of her sons' basketball games. Her family was her greatest joy. That love only deepened as grandchildren arrived: Anthony, Jonas, Madysen, Elijah, and Malachi. She delighted in becoming a great-grandmother to River, Asher, and Remy, cherishing every opportunity to watch her family continue to grow.
Just over a week before her passing, on June 28, Jane and Del celebrated alongside their family at a second baptism of a great-grandchild. This was a special memory that Jane cherished in her heart.
Throughout their sixty plus years together, Jane and Del shared a steadfast faith that anchored every season of life. Both came from families with deep Mennonite roots, and that heritage of faith was reflected in the way they lived—with humility, generosity, and an unwavering love for Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior.
As we grieve this unexpected loss, we also celebrate the countless memories Jane leaves behind. Few things brought her greater joy than gathering with family. Whether traveling from Florida back to Colorado or Kansas for reunions, birthdays, holidays, or baptisms, she treasured every opportunity to be together. Some of life's sweetest memories were also its simplest: sitting on the porch as the sun set, singing familiar songs, sharing a meal with friends, writing down a recipe, getting her nails done, shopping at Kohl’s and savoring the moments.
Those moments never seemed long enough. Yet today, even through tears, we give thanks for Jane's life, her love, and the legacy of faith she leaves behind. We hold her close in our hearts, comforted by the promise that this goodbye is not forever. We look forward to the day when, through the grace of Jesus Christ, we will gather again in that great family reunion where all who belong to Him will be reunited in the eternal love and presence of God.
Jane is survived by her beloved husband of 60 years, Delbert; her sons, Scott of Olathe, Kansas, and Jason (Gina) of Evans, Colorado; her cherished grandchildren, Anthony, Jonas (Emily), Madysen, Elijah (Audra), and Malachi; and her treasured great-grandchildren, River, Asher, and Remy. She is also survived by her siblings, Shirley Deutchendorf, Dean Koehn, and Clara Smith, along with many beloved nieces, nephews, extended family members, and dear friends.
She is preceded in death by her parents, sisters Rose, Geneva & Linda, brother Pete Jr, half sisters Sylvia, Dorothy, Gladys & Louise, half brothers Virgil, Melvin, Ervin and Waymon, her dear daughter in-law Lori.
Visitation will be from 9:00-10:00 AM followed by the Funeral Services at 10:00 AM Saturday, July 11, at the First Baptist Church of Overland Park, 8200 West 96th Street, Overland Park, KS 66212. Burial will be 3:00 PM in Abilene Cemetery, Abilene, Kansas.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Dade City Christian Church in support of its Prison Ministries. Donations may be mailed to:
Dade City Christian Church
11800 Windsorwood Blvd.
Dade City, FL 33525