John "Jack" A. Bast

John A. "Jack" Bast, 88, of La Crosse, Wisconsin passed away December 23, 2025, surrounded by family. He was a beloved husband, father, and grandfather.

Jack was born on October 15, 1937 to John and Martha Bast of Watertown, Wisconsin. Jack was the youngest of three, graduating from Watertown High School in 1955. He loved the game of baseball and was his high school's team captain his junior and senior years while playing shortstop. Jack was voted the team's MVP when, in 1955, his team won the state championship. After high school, Jack had a tryout with the Milwaukee Braves, making it into the top five. At the age of 17, Jack moved to La Crosse to attend La Crosse State College (UWL). While in college, Jack started dating the love of his life, Carole Sommerfield. The couple married on August 20, 1960 shortly after Jack graduated with a bachelor's degree. Also, while in college, Jack enlisted with the Marine Corps, attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) in Quantico, Virginia where he graduated as a 2nd lieutenant and was later promoted to 1st lieutenant during his three years of service. He was stationed at Camp LeJeune in North Carolina where he and his young bride spent their first year of married life. For a time while serving, Jack was stationed in Vieques, Puerto Rico, during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Once out of the service, Jack took a position with Allstate in Milwaukee and began a long career in Underwriting, later taking positions with Midwestern National Insurance Corporation (MNIC), based out of La Crosse, and later, moving back to Milwaukee to work for Badger Mutual up until his retirement in 2004. Jack loved the legal aspects of written policy and earned the trust of his colleagues as a go-to consultant around legal aspects of the work. Jack continued to work, part-time, as a consultant after retiring. When Jack and Carole lived in condominiums in both Hartford, WI and later, La Crosse, Jack served on the boards of each condo association. He was involved in numerous charities and was a Lion's Club volunteer for many years.

Throughout his adult life, Jack enjoyed playing a variety of sports including semi-pro baseball for a time, bowling, and golf. He was a loyal fan of the Milwaukee Brewers and in the mid-90's he attended Brewers Fantasy Camp in Arizona during the team's spring training. Jack maintained involvement with UW-La Crosse sports and served on the Foundation's Board of Directors. Jack established two perpetual athletic scholarships to assist incoming students, as well as the athletics program.

Jack and Carole spent the past ten years living in La Crosse, attending family dinners, traveling the Driftless, and attending countless music performances by their grandson. Jack loved a drive in the country exploring roads untraveled. Another love and source of joy for Jack were his cats. He had a green thumb, taking care to have beautiful flower beds and a pristine lawn. He lit up his homes at Christmas time, always making his guests feel festive and welcome.

Jack is survived by his wife, Carole, sons Chris Bast and Neil Bast, a daughter, Cheryl (Bast) Howe, and grandchildren, Ryan Howe and Rachel (Graham) Miller. He is preceded in death by his son-in-law, George Howe, his parents, John and Martha Bast, sisters Ethel (Bast) Schumann and Carol (Bast) Fischer, and brothers-in-law, John Schumann and David Fischer.