David Karl Gast

Dave grew up all over the country, including upstate New York, California, Florida, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. He attended college in Southern California, where he studied aviation and started working for Flying Tigers. He later joined Federal Express, where he spent 38 years before retiring.

If you knew Dave, you probably heard a thing or two about airplanes and motorcycles. And if you hadn’t, just give him a few minutes; he could find a way to work them into almost any conversation. He had plenty of stories to share, from riding his motorcycle in Yosemite to fishing for salmon in Alaska. He even appeared on The Dating Game, a story not everyone gets to tell.

At home, Dave enjoyed tending to his plants, especially his tomatoes, watching history programs and National Geographic specials, and cheering on his beloved San Francisco 49ers. He rarely missed a day in the weight room. The family group text, however, ran on Dave’s own schedule. His response might come a little late, but he always had something to add.

More than anything, Dave was proud of his family. His three girls were his greatest accomplishment, and nothing made his face light up quite like telling someone about them. He never stopped looking out for them, either. Even as adults, a visit to Mom and Dad’s often included a quick check of your oil and making sure your car was running okay. It was his way of making sure his girls were taken care of no matter how old they got.

Being Papa to his five grandchildren gave him even more people to love and brag about. As much as he enjoyed his adventures, his airplanes, and his motorcycles, the family he shared with Lynda meant the most to him.

Dave is survived by his wife, Lynda; his three daughters, Michelle (Wes), Nicole, and Victoria (Edmund); and his five grandchildren, Zach, Sydney, Katy, Mason, and Harrison.

His family will miss his stories, his kindness, his slightly delayed text messages, and even those routine oil checks. But most of all, they’ll miss Dave, a husband, dad, and Papa who loved them deeply and showed it in his own everyday ways.