Valerie Gast Stolt

Valerie Kay (Gast) Stolt passed away on February 19, 2022, after a two year-long brave and heroic battle with pancreatic cancer. She is survived by her husband, soulmate, best friend, and love of her life of 45 years, Randall A Stolt.



She is also survived by her twin brother Edward Keith Gast/Marsheila Gast, Beth Ann (Stolt) Recher sister-in-law/James Recher brother-in-law. Nieces Anne Recher and Lisa (Recher) Veeck/Brad Veeck, grandniece Audrey Veeck and grandnephew Ben Veeck. Sally Jo (Stolt) Nolen sister-in-law/Ken Nolen brother-in-law and nephew Justin Lechman/Tricia Lechman.



She was preceded by her parents Edward Clarence Gast and Lorraine Helen Masek Gast.



Valerie was born in Heidelberg Germany along with her twin brother Keith on July 23, 1952. Her father was in the military post-World War II and stationed in Germany. Even though she was only there the first six months of her life, it instilled in her a strong desire for travel and seeing the world (more on that later). When they returned to the US her family moved around with her father's job including two moves to Texas, one in Houston and the other in Fort Worth and one to Cicero IL with family. They finally settled in Hoffman Estates IL where she attended elementary school and Conant High School. She was a driven student with straight A's, proud of her academic accomplishments, and in the Honors Society all four years of high school. She was also very athletic and a cheerleader for four years at Conant. She attended William Woods College in Fulton MO (where she was also a cheerleader) for two years and finished at Upper Iowa University with a degree in Business Administration.



After college she began work as a senior lab technician in pharmacology at G.D. Searle in Skokie IL. It was there she met Randy and their life-long romance began. When asked how she met Randy she would say he picked me up in the parking lot at work. Which was literally true, but Randy had 'stalked' her for at least 6 months before the meeting occurred. They dated for three years before being married on July 2, 1977, at St. John's United Church of Christ in Hoffman Estates IL. Valerie switched careers and became an optician and managed Pearle Vision and Eye Lab stores for the next 10 years. They lived in several places in the Chicago area and Kansas City MO before Randy took a job with Procter and Gamble and moved to Cincinnati OH in 1986. Valerie took early retirement and went to work volunteering and gardening, which became a passion of hers for the rest of her life. She was very active in the Glendale Historic Society in Glendale OH helping establish a new Glendale Historic Society Museum. Valerie and Randy also discovered the delights of wine in Cincinnati and became members of the very exclusive Vin Van Club which met almost every weekend and who's mission was to explore new wines from regions all over the world.



They made three moves with P&G. The first to Easton Connecticut where they made life-long friends, explored New York City frequently, and traveled throughout New England favoring an annual trip to Nantucket. She loved New England. They moved back to Cincinnati for 10 years continuing their quest to try as many wines as possible and eat at the best restaurants they could find in the US. Valerie longed to travel outside the US, so they started with a trip to London and then another trip for their 20th anniversary to Paris, Burgundy, and Strasbourg. These trips reignited her desire to travel the world. So, the third move with P&G to London was an easy decision for her. Boy was she excited!



For six years Valerie explored London top to bottom. She frequented the West End and became a theatre junkie. She averaged between 50 and 60 plays a year, was the local theatre critic for friends and Randy's co-workers. She also sought out every new restaurant in London, of which there are many and saw to it that she and Randy ate at each at least once! She could give personal tours of most great houses and museums in and around London and was a great hostess for friends and family visitors. She and Randy traveled all over Europe, Scandinavia, South Africa, and China. She loved Paris almost as much as London and enjoyed visiting most of the major wine regions in Europe. She took full and complete advantage of her time in Europe and enjoyed every single second of it.



In 2008 Valerie and Randy moved back to the US and settled at the Landings in their retirement. Valerie quickly became active in golf at The Landings Club starting with the 9-Holers where she was both gross and net Champion over two years as well as President for two years. She was also active in many New Neighbors activities through which she established a wonderful circle of friends. Valerie and Randy were members of St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and through her earlier work as an optician, became involved with The Gift of Sight Mission to San Pedro de Macoris in the Dominican Republic. She traveled with the Mission for four years the last two of which she was the head Optician and managed the Optical Shop. Using her superb organizational skills, she organized the Optical Shop with over 8000 pairs of glasses to be easy to use and very organized. This trip became her passion, and it filled a special place in her heart.



Although Valerie's desire to travel was insatiable, she and Randy traveled all over the world in their retirement. Valerie loved it and Randy went wherever she wanted to go. Too many places to list here but suffice it to say they were pretty much everywhere in the world. To say she was full of life is an understatement. She loved to be on the go. She and Randy are members of the Director's Circle at the Telfair Museum as they have a life-long love of art. She loved music and loved to dance, always concerned that Randy couldn't! And she loved the company of good friends and was a good friend to many. Simply put, Valerie lived a very full life with the time she had here on earth. She will be missed by many judging from the overwhelming support she received during her illness from family and friends and Randy knows just how much she will miss them.



Valerie's Celebration of Life will be held at St. Peter's Episcopal Church, 3 W Ridge Road, Skidaway Island Savannah GA on Thursday afternoon, March 10, 2022, at 2:30 pm. A reception will follow from 4-7 at Palmetto Club House, The Landings Club. Private interment will be held in Elgin IL.



In lieu of flowers, please send donations to St. Peter's Church for the Gift of Sight Mission (memo line 'Val Stolt Memorial Gift') or The Telfair Museums Savannah GA.