James E Gast

JAMES E. GAST

James E. Gast, 74, died peacefully after a short but intense battle with cancer at Joliet Area Community Hospice on May 9th in the company of family.

Jim was born on July 7, 1941 at Silver Cross Hospital to Stanton and Clare (Brock) Gast. He was raised on a farm in Manhattan, Illinois and attended St. Joseph's Grade School. He was a member of Lincoln-Way High School's class of 1959. While at Lincoln-Way he was active on the football and baseball teams, serving as captain of both his Senior year. He was also a member of the Future Farmers of America, was a representative in Springfield for Boy's State and was on the Student Council. Jim Attended St. Ambrose College and Southern Illinois University where he majored in Agriculture.

In 1965 Jim married Mary Lou Cummins and together they raised two children: Mark E. (Christy) Gast of Grand Rapids, Michigan and Melissa (Alan) Breitbart of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Brother to Kathleen (Dennis) Galle, Ray (Jo) Gast, Rita (Charlie) Russella and brother-in-law, Vance Cummins. He became Papa to his wonderful grandchildren Ryan and Alec Gast and James and Mia Breitbart. He was Uncle Jim to his much-loved nieces and nephews Juli, Galle, Mike (Erin) Galle, Beth (Kameron) deVente, Jeff (Katrina) Galle, Christopher (Melanie) Galle, Andrea (Kieran) Noonan, Nick (Meg) Galle, Kate (Sean) Ramswick, Pete Russella and Joe Russella, Melissa (Hugh) Rink, David Morgan and Kristen Gast. He will always be remembered by the many friends of his children who spent many hours at the Gast home over the years.

Jim began his career as a salesman with the International Harvester Company in 1964. Jim worked in various management positions for the next ten years in Illinois, Missouri, Kansas and Minnesota. His last assignment was in Warren, Minnesota where he managed a Company store from 1972 to 1974. During those two years the desire for having his own dealership was kindled. In December, 1974, Jim purchased Moss Equipment in Joliet and created Gast International, an International Harvester Farm Equipment store. After five years in the original facilites, Jim and his employees moved into a new, larger facility in which to conduct his growing business. His dealership has been featured in many International Harvester advertising brochures, TV commercials and Company magazines. In 1982, he served as President of the International Harvester North American Agriculture Dealer Council representing U.S. and Canadian Ag. Dealers. He has served on various advisory Councils at Lincoln-Way High School, Joliet Junior College and St. Francis Academy along with being past Chairman of the Will county Heart Fund Drive. He was always active in the Farm Equipment Association and was President in 1983. Jim has been involved in many Illinois Retail Dealer's Association activtes and served as President in 1984. Jim retired in the year 2000. Just how many of us know what we want to be when we grow up? Jim knew - at the ripe old age of nine or ten - that he wanted to "ride 'em or sell 'em". (Farmall's that is!)

His proudest accomplishment was being elected to the Board of Education of Lincoln-Way Community High School in 1983. He actively and devotedly served on the Board from 1983 to 2016 - a total of 33 years. He was selflessly dedicated to the school, the students and his community. Jim was a community relations ambassador for the Lincoln-Way High School District 210. During his time on the Board he was at the forefront of gaining support and improving communication from the high school district to parents, students, community members and employees.

Jim served as president of the Board of Education three times: 1989-1991; 1997-1998; 2003-2005 and served as the Board liaison to the Lincoln-Way District 210 foundation for Educational Excellence from 1999 to 2001.

As evidence of his strong commitment to communication, Jim routinely attended activities, academic ceremonies, graduations, and sports events at all four high schools in the district. Jim (and his fellow Board members) represented the district at each of the communities chambers of commerce business expos and other community sponsored events.

Jim also actively listened to his community as he attended every community meeting the district hosted including: senior citizen lunches; realtor, banker, and elected village officials meetings; clergy and area school district official's events; breakfasts with freshman parents, community leader day; and all Lincoln-Way Foundation functions.

With his background in business and farming, Jim as been a strong supporter of the district's vocational and fine arts programs. His support of a partnership for an Agri-Science Center in conjunction with a neighboring village succeeded in securing an 8-acre Agri-Science Center.

Jim also took a leadership role with the Lincoln-Way Alumni Planning Committee and served on their board of directors for more than 6 years. As a graduate of Lincoln-Way High School class of '59, Jim communicated the importance of the schools' Alumni Association.

Additionally, Jim was one of the leaders of the district's 10-year reading program. This program became a graduation requirement by our Board of Eduation and was communicated to the public by the administrative team and Board of Education members. Jim Gast was one of the presenters of the district's reading program, "Ascending the Reading Summit: 10 Step Success Story" as part of the Carousel of Panels at the Illinois Association of School Board's Annual Conference in 2010.

One of the most gratifying things he was involved in through Lincoln-Way was the Special Education Joint Agreement Governing Board of District 843 in which he was a member from 2001 to 2015. He served as Secretarty from 2003 to 2006, President from 2007 to 2009 and Vice President from 2013 to 2015.

Jim Gast served over 45,000 Lincoln-Way students during his 33 years as a Board of Education member. He gave thousands of hours involved in activities to improve support and understanding of our school disctrict. His passion was to serve all students and to continue to support programs that improve student achievement. He well deserved and twice earned INSPRA's Distinguished Service Award in the Board of Education category.

Jim