Richard Wayne Fast was born Monday, March 9, 1943 in Knoxville, Iowa the son of Van and Virginia Fast. Richard was raised alongside his younger brother, Robert Fast.

Richard graduated from Knoxville High School with the Class of 1961. After high school, he attended college graduating from the University of Wisconsin in 1969 with a teaching degree. In 1964, he married Gay Maloney. They had four children: Tom, Amy, John, and Mary. Richard taught school at Wheatland School in Wisconsin for one year and taught at North Winneshiek School District from 1970 to 1976 before moving back to Knoxville where he taught 6th thru 12th grade in the area of the Sciences for 24 years. In 1982, he married Judy Nicoson and they lived in Urbandale. Judy had two children, Kimberly and Christopher.

On December 20, 1997, Richard was united in marriage to Dian Ites. Dian had one child, Roger. The couple made their home on the family acreage northeast of Knoxville. Together, they built the interior of their home. After Richard retired, he and Dian spent over 17 years wintering in Mission, Texas.

In his spare time, Richard enjoyed woodworking, fishing, painting, wood-carving, and Civil War Reenacting. He would carve Christmas ornaments for family and friends every year. Richard volunteered at the State Historical Society, restoring Civil War and other Iowa Flags.

Richard passed away Sunday, February 8, 2026 at his home, in Knoxville, at the age of 82 years.

Richard was preceded in death by his parents, Van and Virginia Fast, his wife, Judy, and step-daughter, Kimberly Dawald.

Richard will be greatly missed by his wife, Dian Fast of 28 years; his children: Thomas (Jenniffer) Fast of Iowa City, IA, Amy (Damian) Grozier of Scituate, MA, John (Lisa) Fast of Parker, CO, and Mary Sorkin of Lakewood, CO; step-sons: Roger (Marni) Ites of Omaha, NE, and Christopher Nicoson of Sarasota, FL, his grandchildren: Samuel, Hannah, and Ella Fast, Matthew, James, Sarah and Rebecca Grozier, Aileen Yoon, Erin Fast, Elena, Elsie and Maxwell Sorkin, Graham and Anna Dawald, and many other family members and friends.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Knoxville Public Library or “The Locke” Stadium in care of the Knoxville Alumni Association.