This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: HAST; NOLLEN; RIDGLEY Classification: Obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/zk.2ADI/896 Message Board Post: Virgil A. Hast Virgil A. Hast was born in Defiance December 30, 1920, the son of August and Emma Nollen Hast. He died Friday, October 4, 2002, at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison at the age of eighty-one. Virgil received his education in the Arion and Dow City schools. After completing his education, he farmed for a short time and then joined the CC Camp in the area for awhile before moving to California where he worked at an aircraft company. In March of 1943, Virgil joined the Army Air Corps as an airplane electrical specialist assigned to the 355th Bomb Squadron. August 16, 1944, Virgil was united in marriage to Ferne Ridgley at St. John's Lutheran Church in Stockholm Township. The couple were blessed with the birth of five children. Alter a short leave, he served his country during WWII, assigned to the Western Pacific Theater and was involved with the Air offensive over Japan. He was decorated with the American Theater Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, the Victory Ribbon and the APT Ribbon. He was honorably discharged from the Army Air Corps in March of 1946 and returned to Crawford County where he farmed in the Wall Lake area until 1967. In 1961, he began his employment at Farmland Foods, Inc. and continued farming until 1967 when he moved to Dow City. Virgil retired from Farmland Foods in 1982. Virgil had a positive view of life, and was always happy. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather who enjoyed spending time with his family. In his leisure time, he enjoyed fishing at Pierre, S.D., with his sons, other family and friends; watching Chicago Cubs baseball and the Minnesota Vikings football teams; gardening, feeding the birds and socializing at Ace's over a game of cards. He remained very active with his children and enjoyed helping them at farming. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church and the American Legion Post 444 all of Dow City. Virgil was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter, Joan Keairnes in 1982 and two brothers, August Jr. (Fritz) and Gayle. Survivors include his wife, Ferne of Dow City; three sons, David and his wife Marcia of Sioux City, Dean and his wife Lisa of St. Paul, N.C., Lynn and his wife Sheri of Dow City; one daughter, Karen Muff and her husband Tom of Dow City; twenty-two grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren; four sisters, Phyllis (Molly) Hummel and her husband Norman of Schleswig, Doris Auen and her husband Arnold of Denison, Shirley Hollrah and her husband Kenneth of Chadron, Neb., Betty Greder and her husband Keith of Denison; one brother, Vernon and his wife Delores of Denison and one sister-in-law, Darlene Hast of Denison. Funeral services were held Monday, October 7, 2002, at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Dow City. Rev. Gordon Buchholz officiated at the 2 p.m. service. Service music was provided by EveVonne Muff and service hymns included "Amazing Grace," "How Sweet the Sound," "How Great Thou Art," and "On Eagles Wings." Interment was made at Dow City Cemetery in Dow City. Military honors were provided by American Legion Post 444 of Dow City. Pallbearers were Mike Keairnes, Jeff Keairnes, Jeremy Muff, Chad Muff, Jason Hast, Justin Hast, Tom Hast, Bill Hast, Sean Hast, Chris Hast. Dunlap Reporter, Dunlap, IA