John Quast, DVM

Dr. John F. Quast was born on December 9, 1938 and died peacefully at home on March 20, 2022. John grew up in a small town in rural Minnesota, and yet there was nothing small about his larger-than-life personality. He had an intensity, intellectual curiosity and sense of humor that penetrated everyone around him. He was the son of immigrants, dairy farmers who grew their own food and butchered their own meat. The twelfth of thirteen children, like the rest of his family, he inherited German discipline; rising early to do chores before school and learning at an early age to keep his head down and work hard. This relentless work ethic ultimately defined every aspect of his life. At seventeen, he left the farm and joined the Navy, eager to serve and explore the world. He sailed on the USS Essex, an aircraft carrier, as a Petty Officer and electrician. Stationed in San Diego, CA he trained mostly in the Mediterranean where he gained an appreciation for life and culture beyond his hometown. Upon his return from duty, John used the GI Bill to attend the University of Minnesota, studying Veterinary Medicine as it was the “closest thing to farming he knew.” In 1962, he married his high school sweetheart, Mary (Heigl). It was a love affair that started well before that and lasted nearly 70 years. Within two years, they had two kids, Mary Jo and Johnny. John, the only member of his family to go to college, completed his undergraduate studies in two years and then graduated at the top of his veterinary class in 1966. From there, he pursued a PhD in Pathology, making him a “double doc.” In 1973 he was hired by The Dow Chemical Company to work in their Toxicology Department in Midland, Michigan. John was board certified by the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and over the course of his 25 year career, he led many studies aimed at protecting human health and the environment. As a Senior Associate Scientist, he was considered an expert on the safety of several industrial and agricultural chemicals, working with partners in the US, Japan, China, Europe and Brazil before retiring in 1998. John’s “second career” included flipping real estate properties and also helping his wife Mary, the owner of The Material Mart and Needlecraft Shop in Midland, Michigan. Together, they spent the next fifteen years growing the business and traveling to shows all over the country where John not only provided transportation and labor, he legitimately helped sales by entertaining customers. John set the bar really high for those around him, never giving less than 110 percent. He was happiest when he was exceeding expectations, whether that was in school, at work, in business, playing games or in relationships. He demonstrated his love through his actions more than his words and he felt incredible pride in the accomplishments of his hardworking children and grandchildren, all of whom have been influenced by his positivity and competitive spirit. His legacy lives on through his wife, Mary, daughter Mary Jo (Todd) Piper of Traverse City; a son John Allen (Juli) Quast of Grand Junction, CO; grandchildren, Paige (Danny) Tomes, Hannah (Richard) Koehler, Maya Piper, Aleah (Sam) Stealey and Marshall Quast. A private service will be held at Christ the King Catholic Church on Monday with Father Christopher Jarvis officiating. For those wishing to give a gift in memory of John, contributions may be directed to Christ the King Church. Funeral arrangements have been entrusted to the Reynolds-Jonkhoff Funeral Home. Those interested may share condolences on his tribute page, www.reynolds-jonkhoff.com.

John Quast, DVM

December 9, 1938 - March 20, 2022