Emil served in the US Army during WWII and earned several medals and honors. He retired in 1982 from Frog Switch Manufacturing Co. after 35 years of service as a crane operator. He was a member of St. Paul's Evangelical Lutheran Church, Carlisle. Emil enjoyed woodworking, gardening, fishing and loved dogs.

He is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 41 years, Vesta R. (Porter) Carper Gast, six children; Nancy Jansen (and husband, Charles) of Lexington, KY, Sandra Enck (and husband, Garry) of Carlisle, Douglas Gast (and wife, Deborah) of Newville, William Carper (and wife, Vonnie) of Hudson, WI, Robert Carper (and wife, Tawnya) of Greencastle and Susie Carper (and husband, Howdy) of Shippensburg, one brother, Leonard Gast, three sisters; Marge Wolkins, Dolores Gast and Loreta Crowley, 11 grandchildren, 21 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. Emil was preceded in death by his first wife, Loretta Morris Gast, who died in 1969 and several brothers and sisters.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 12, 2012, at 10:30 a.m. in the Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, 630 S. Hanover St., Carlisle, with Rev. Timothy W. Sadler officiating. Burial with military honors by Cumberland County Honor Guard will be in Westminster Memorial Gardens, Carlisle. A viewing will be on Friday from 9:30 a.m. until time of the services at the funeral home. Memorial contributions may be made to St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church, 201 W. Louther St., Carlisle, PA 17013.