Ralph Stanley Gast

Ralph Stanley Gast passed away Tuesday, Jan. 27, 2026, at MercyOne North Iowa Medical Center in Mason City. The family will have a private graveside service, and Ralph’s ashes will be laid to rest in Steamboat Rock Cemetery, per his request, “when everyone is home and the weather is nice.” Funeral arrangements are under the guidance of the Sietsema Funeral Home in Ackley.

Ralph was born April 23, 1936, on the family farm west of Steamboat Rock, to Alfred and Jennie (Hoffman) Gast. He attended and graduated from Steamboat Rock Community School in 1954. That year, he began working for Joe Cervetti-Cervetti Construction in Steamboat Rock, IA. While remodeling the school in Aplington, he met and fell in love with Dwanna Mae DeVries. They were married Dec. 2, 1955.

Their family grew quickly, and they were blessed with four children: Alan, Michael, Rhonda and Lisa. When the opportunity arose, they purchased Ralph’s grandparents’ house in Steamboat Rock. Running water, electricity and indoor plumbing were the first of many improvements made over the years. Walls were taken down and moved; there were two additions—a master bedroom and a large living room with a fireplace were added. Ralph’s woodworking skills were growing as well. A large shop to accommodate cabinet building was built by Ralph and his boys.

In 2013, Ralph and Dwanna purchased their current home in Ackley, where they lived. Of course, Ralph put his creative touches on this home, too—gutting it, rearranging several spaces, and building custom hickory cabinets for Dwanna. Ralph continued to do smaller remodel projects and cabinetry, along with customized pieces of furniture requested by his family, through the fall of 2025.

From 1954 to 1976, he continued working for Joe Cervetti. They built churches and homes from the ground up, added rooms to existing structures, and remodeled many homes. In 1976, he opened Ralph Gast Construction. He continued building homes from start to finish; his beautiful cabinetry was often requested, and that sideline flourished. There were many custom remodeling projects and additions to family homes done through the years—too many to remember or list for fear of forgetting one.

He enjoyed racing snowmobiles from 1969–1975. He enjoyed cutting down trees, splitting and stacking an ample supply of wood to burn in the lovely fireplace he designed and built in their home in Steamboat Rock. He served on the city council while they lived there and was instrumental in the design and construction of the veterans memorial located in the Steamboat Rock Cemetery.

Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Alfred and Jennie (Hoffman) Gast; four brothers and two sisters, Elmer, Duane, Russel, Irvin, IvaMae and Marjorie. He is survived by his wife of 70 years, Dwanna (DeVries) Gast; their four children and their spouses: Alan and Karen (Brownlee) Gast of Manhattan, KS; Michael and Diane (Beckett) Gast of Bend, OR; Rhonda and Steven Diemer of Geneva, IA; and Lisa and Jerry Fisher of Ackley, IA. Eight grandchildren and their spouses: Briggs Shore and Patrick Goldacker, Jenna Shore, Taryn and David Showalter, Danielle and Aaron Bell, Brady Fisher and girlfriend Abby Nachtman, Aubrie and Jacob VanderWilt, Andrew Gast, and Meredith Gast. Three great-grandchildren: Harpyr, Tripp, and Reece. One brother, Laverne Gast; and four sisters, Katherine (Kitty) Hemmen, Judith (Judy) Callaway, Joan Havens, and Eloise Willems; as well as many nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.