Victor “Vic” E. Bast, 91, Oconto Falls, died Monday afternoon, Dec. 23, 2013, at home, surrounded by his loving family. The only son of four children, he was born Sept. 17, 1922, near Gillett to William and Ruth (Flick) Bast.
Vic grew up in the Oconto Falls area, where he attended public schools, graduating high school with the Class of 1938. He went on to receive his Bachelor of Science degree in education from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh. Later, Vic attended UW-Madison, where he received his master’s degree in administration. He started teaching in a one-room school with 37 pupils in all eight grades. Vic later moved to a two-room school in Spruce where he taught grades 5-8.
When the Japanese attacked our unprepared country at Pearl Harbor, it plunged the United States into World War II. Vic tried to enlist in the Army Air Corps but was sent home because there were no training bases to train aviators. After waiting several months, he was called to report to Texas, where they were building air bases as fast as possible. After about one year of training at many bases, he got his wings and was sent to England, where he was assigned to the 56th Fighter Group as a fighter pilot in P-47 Thunderbolts, the fastest airplane in the world at the time.
His group had the record of more enemy planes destroyed than any group in the Army Air Corps. Vic came in with 16 replacements to cover pilots lost in the previous two weeks, and only a few lived through to the end of the war. Because losses were so heavy, Vic quickly advanced to a leadership role, and by the end of the war had flown 63 missions, destroyed four enemy planes and inflicted damage to 11 more in various air battles.
In recognition, Vic received the Distinguished Flying Cross as well as the Air Medal seven times. When the war ended, Vic volunteered to go to Japan to be a squadron commander, but there was no transportation, and the war ended by the time he got back home. Following his honorable discharge from the military, Vic began teaching just three days after getting home and continued in education for 41 years, 25 as principal.
On Dec. 31, 1942, he married Geraldine “Jerry” Bast, and together they had six children. All six of their children attended St. Anthony Catholic School, where Jerry taught for 11 years. As a lifetime member of St. Anthony Church, Vic served as a trustee and School Board member for 12 years.
He was a life member in the American Legion, the Disabled American Veterans and The Military Twenty-Year Club Inc. of Marinette. Vic remained in the reserves following his discharge, and after 24 years retired as a lieutenant colonel, serving in all offices including commander.
He was also a life member of the Retired Teachers Association and other organizations. Following retirement, he and Jerry made many trips to visit their children. When Jerry became very sick, their traveling ended so Vic could care for Jerry during the last three years of her life. In 2003, Vic married Agnes (Konitzer) Bridger, and the couple had 10 good years together, spending their winters in Florida and summers in Oconto Falls.
Survivors are his wife, Agnes Bridger-Bast, Oconto Falls; his five children, Ruth (Wayne) Zemke, Fullerton, Calif., Margaret “Maggie” (Joe) Jones, Iola, Vicki (Bill) Wendricks, Waynesboro, Miss., Gloria (Bob) Edwards, Green Bay, and Victor W. (Diane) Bast, San Ramon, Calif.; 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Delores Skarban, Milwaukee; many nieces and nephews; Agnes’ six children, Dan (Mary) Bridger, Salt Lake City, Russ Bridger, Minneapolis, Charles (Lynn) Bridger, Milwaukee, Cindy (Dave) Boyd, Sarasota, Fla., Gene (Sherry) Bridger, Virginia, and Karin (Jon) Bridger, Florida; their nine grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Besides his parents and first wife, Jerry, he was also preceded in death by his son and 20-year Navy pilot, Cmdr. William Victor Bast; two sisters, Loretta Lemirande and Mercedes Thielke; two brothers-in-law, Carl Lemirande and Bob Skarban; and one son-in-law, Lee Shoemaker.
Visitation was held Monday, Dec. 30, at Jones Funeral Service in Oconto Falls. Visitation continued at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Oconto Falls on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Mass of Christian Burial was celebrated Tuesday at the church with the Rev. Joel Sember officiating. Burial with military honors followed in the church cemetery.
In lieu of other expressions of sympathy, memorials may be made to St. Anthony Catholic School or Unity Hospice of De Pere.
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