IRWIN M. FASTOW

Irwin Michael “Mike” Fastow, 82, of Wimberley, Texas, died Monday, July 27, 2020 in New Braunfels after a brief hospitalization.

He was proceeded in death by his spouse, Jeannine Fastow in 2017, and is survived by his sister Claire Ringer; brother David; daughter Deborah Newgard and her husband Neal; son Michael; daughter Cheryl Kringle and her husband Jason; and his grandchildren Paige, Grace, Piper, and Theodore.

Born in Chicago on December 29, 1937 to Sally neé Lund and Nathan, his family moved to California when he was a young boy. He joined the Navy in 1956 and proudly served as a Meteorologist until his retirement in 1976; he then joined the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and continued his career until his final retirement in 1992.

Mike met his wife, Jeannine neé Spornhauer while living in California, and when he was stationed to Yokosuka, Japan, Jeannine flew there to join him, where they were married in 1960. Mike and Jeannine spent the next 31 years raising their family while traveling throughout the world and the US, while in service to the Navy and NOAA.

They moved to Wimberley in 1991 to be close to Jeannine’s parents, Ted and Berniece Spornhauer. While Mike always had a love of details and craftsmanship, it was here in Wimberley, that he discovered his love of wood working, and created his business, Fastow’s Wood Works. He created jewelry boxes, canes, walking sticks, sword cases and other beautiful items using exotic wood and even learned to perform his own bronze casting for his canes.

His family and friends will miss his unexpected love of cats, his attention to details, as well as his quirky humor and giving nature. A celebration of life will be planned for the future.

For more information and to sign the online registry, please visit the Thomason Funeral Home website at thomasonfuneralhome.com.