Robert Ashman passed away peacefully on March 23 at Brookdale Assisted Living in Appleton. Bob was born on January 24, 1923 in West Bend, Wisconsin. He was the son of Harrison and Hilda (Schroeder) Ashman. After graduating from West Bend High School, Bob attended the Milwaukee School of Art. In 1945 he married Adeline Johann, also from West Bend.
For the next 39 years Bob and Addie owned and operated the Ashman Greenhouses on the corner of 9th and Hickory Street in West Bend. Bob and Addie were completely devoted to each other for the 70 years they were married. They maintained a huge garden in their back yard and enjoyed home grown fruits and vegetables all year long – fresh, canned, frozen or fermented.
They loved to travel, dance and play bridge. When the children still lived at home they all enjoyed heading out to Big Cedar Lake to spend the day on Bob’s sailboat. Bob also enjoyed renting small planes for day trips with family and flying remote controlled model airplanes. Bob was well known for his ability to build and fix almost anything. He built his sailboat, his remote controlled airplanes, plus many furnishings around the house.
Bob is survived by his children – Nicolas (Karen) Ashman, Nancy Ashman and Rosemary (Robert) Kreider; grandsons – Scott Kreider and Jonathan (Libby) Kreider; and great-grandson Eli Kreider.
Bob was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, his brother, Ozzie and sister, Ora (Ashman) Dickman.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30AM on Monday, March 28, 2016 at Holy Angel Catholic Church with Father Gerald Brittain presiding. Visitation will be held at the church from 9:30AM until the time of service. Interment will be at Washington County Memorial Park.
Bob’s family would like to thank the staff at Brookdale Assisted Living and the Heartland Hospice staff for the compassionate care they provided to both Bob and Addie.