Harold L. Mast

On July 6, 2021 surrounded by his family, Harold Lenard Mast, age 86, went home into the arms of Jesus after an extended illness with prostate cancer.  He was born May 4, 1935 to Daniel H. and Mildred Fern Boyer Mast in Goshen, Indiana.

He married Edna Marie Yoder on August 24, 1956 and they had four children.  He is survived by daughter-in-law Jennifer Mast, three daughters Joan Ebert (Weldon), LaJane Shaw (Rick), and Charlene Mast (Randy Miller), siblings Dale Mast, Dorothy (Richard) Brenneman, brother-in-law Eli Schwartz and Glen Mast.  Also surviving are 10 grandchildren:  Joshua (Beth) Mast, Caleb (DeAirah) Mast, Anna (Jon) Hierholzer, Lynae Mast, Meredith May, Donald Cooper, Liza (JD) Richardson, Riley Shaw, Alicia Thomas, Sofia Thomas and two step-grandchildren Anna Ebert and Jake Musselman; and 13 great-grandchildren: Joel, Seth, Sidney, Levi, Ava-Grace, Ethan, Eleanor, Kaitlyn, Naomi Mast, Aaliyah Mast, Gabriel Hierholzer, Jillian and Lucas Cooper and one step-great grandchild Matea Downing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Galen Ray Mast, brother Robert Henry Mast, sister Marilyn (Eli) Schwartz, sister-in-law Velma (Dale) Mast and Linda (Glen) Mast.

At the age of 11, Harold accepted Christ and became a member of Locust Grove Mennonite Church, Burr Oak, Michigan.  Following one of his favorite verses, "In all thy ways acknowledge him and he will direct your paths," Harold began a lifetime walk of being sensitive to the Spirit and following Jesus.

Harold chose to be a conscientious objector and did alternative service at Michigan State University in the soil science department.  In this 1-W placement he developed lifelong friendships.  His leadership was recognized early on when he was asked to be the unit leader.  At the end of his two year commitment he met Edna Yoder and they married.

As newlyweds, Harold and Edna moved to Burr Oak, Michigan.  While attending South Colon Mennonite Church, he was called into leadership by the congregation in May 1958.  Harold soon became aware that he wanted more biblical training and enrolled in a 3-year program at Ontario Mennonite Bible Institute (OMBI) in Kitchener, Ontario.  From 1961-1963 he served as interim pastor at Preston Mennonite Church, Preston, Ontario.  After graduation, the family returned to Burr Oak and Harold co-pastored South Colon Mennonite Church with William Wickey.

In April 1964, Harold received the call to pastor at Howard-Miami Mennonite Church (HMMC) and the family moved to Kokomo, Indiana where he served for 6 years.  After that pastorate, he began what would become a lifelong bi-vocational ministry of voluntarily serving in congregations while running his own ceramic tile business.  He served for many years on the pastoral team at Parkview Mennonite Church, Kokomo, Indiana.

For the last 30 years Harold and Edna attended Howard Miami Mennonite Church.  There he served as an elder and on various other committees.  Harold was a prayer warrior.  He was very much involved in the leadership of the prayer ministry at the church, which had been a lifelong passion.  He participated in prayer teams at both the church and with the Evana Network.

He was also active in many ecumenical ministries in the community including Full Gospel Business Men's Ministry and helping to start the Believer's School of Ministry.

Harold sought to grow in his faith and was passionate about inner healing and encouraged others in their own healing through participating in the Great Banquet, Kairos Prison Ministry at Miami Correctional Facility and the Inner Healing Conferences at Wheaton University.

Harold started Harold L. Mast Contracting in the late 1970's and discovered he enjoyed the challenge of installing ceramic tile.  He employed many of his own family to work alongside him, including 7 of his 10 grandchildren.  He worked the last 20 years primarily in the Indianapolis area through contracts with Blakely's Flooring.  He was known in the industry as dependable, conscientious, honest, and caring and at times even "walked on water."  Harold thrived on talking with his customers, and listening to what they had to share about their personal lives.  He used his pastoral skills regularly.

He was an organizer and especially used these skills with his employees on two of his largest and most challenging jobs:  the Hampton Inn, Kokomo, where he installed all the tile work throughout the building, and Grissom Airforce Base.  Harold's last tile job was late summer of 2019 at the age of 84.  However, he was not completely retired.  He readily agreed to serve on the pastoral search committee for his church and dedicated much of his time to praying for that future pastor.

He is remembered as a man of God, caring, kind, and loving.  To his family, he was Dad and Grandpa who was willing to drop everything to listen.  He taught each of us the skills of his trade, but most importantly he passed on to us that the love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell.

Visitation will be held on Wednesday, July 14, 2021 from 2:00-7:00 PM at the Howard-Miami Mennonite Church, 3976 East 1400 South, Kokomo, Indiana 46901.  Funeral service will be held on Thursday, July 15, 2021 at 11:00 AM at the Church with visitation one hour prior to the service.  Pastor Will Douglas and Pastor Philip Leichty will officiate.  Burial will take place at the Bond Cemetery in Amboy, Indiana.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the Evana Network or the Valley of Grace.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Flowers-Leedy Funeral Home.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook at www.FlowersLeedyAllen.com. 

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