Thomas J. Gast

Thomas J. “Tom” Gast passed away in his home Tuesday, April 4, 2023.  Born February 10, 1932 to the late Joseph Gast and Katherine (Hasebrook) Gast, he was the middle child of three.

After graduating from St John High School, in Maria Stein OH, Tom attended Xavier University before enlisting in the United States Army where he served from 1953 to 1955.  After an honorable discharge, Tom relocated to Detroit, MI where he attended University of Detroit and met and married Norma Jean Mower in 1955. Together, they had four children and moved to South Bend, Indiana.

Educated in accounting, he began a career in the transportation industry before achieving the title of Safety Director at Shipper’s Dispatch. This is when Tom first discovered the need for standardized training to ensure the safety of truck drivers nationwide.  In January 1973, he founded Commercial Driver Institute. Over the next several decades, Tom grew his business to include up to 15 locations across the country.  In addition, he expanded operations by providing driver leasing and many other support services to the commercial trucking industry.  He was a man of vision and had a talent and passion for real estate development as well, an area on which he focused throughout his life.  

Truly a self-made man, Tom had a strong work ethic.  This began as a child working in his father’s store in Maria Stein, Ohio; a place of comfort and fond family memories for him.  One of Tom’s proudest achievements in life was the restoration of his family’s historic home in that same town.  He will be remembered for his generosity to his family, the Catholic church, and the various communities he resided.

Tom married Elizabeth Fox in Sanford FL the fall of 2001 and lived on the west coast of FL for over 20 years.  He is survived by his wife Elizabeth Gast, his children, Joseph Gast, Kim (Lochmondy) Gast, and James Gast and brother-in-law Louis Overman.  Tom’s surviving family members also include his 8 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren. He is preceded in death by his third child, Jeffrey Gast, his sisters Joan (Overman) Gast and Martha (Rindler) Gast and his first wife, Norma Jean Mower.

A Mass of Christian burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at St John the Baptist Catholic Church in Maria Stein, Ohio, with burial to follow in St. John Cemetery. Friends may call at the Hogenkamp Funeral Home, Minster from 4-7 PM on Tuesday, April 11, 2023 and from 9 to 10 AM on Wednesday.  Condolences can be left at www.hogenkampfh.com.