November 13, 2019 – Hustisford, WI –Ranger L. Ashby, 82, of Hustisford, Wisconsin passed away peacefully on Monday, November 11, 2019, at his home. Ranger was born on July 30, 1937, to James and Goldie (nee Mayne) Ashby in Tigerton, Wisconsin. Ranger officially met the love of his life, Judy Walker, at Group Therapy…a bar in Hartford, Wisconsin in 1968, although he had delivered dry-cleaning to her family when she was just a kid. He had no idea then that she would become his bride on August 16, 1969 in her hometown of Ontonagon, Michigan.
He is survived by his beloved wife of fifty years, Judy. Together, they enjoyed their time at the cabin in the North Woods, years of bowling leagues and baseball games, countless sports, scouting, music, and theater events with their children and grandchildren, and many, many journeys around the US. Whether they were off on an adventure in his favorite Honda mini-van or working in his garden, Ranger and Judy enjoyed their time spent together. They teased and joked as 50-years-married couples do, but loved to be with one another.
Ranger is also survived by his cherished children, Michal (Kim), Becci (Jim) Gerbitz, and Stacie (Stephen) Ashby, his grandchildren Tanner, Carson, and Reece Gerbitz, Jaxon and Greyson Ashby, Lilly Gerber, his AFS kids…Kurt (Switzerland), Michela (Italy), Dave (Australia), Lorena (Chile) and Barbara (Hungary). Ranger also leaves behind his siblings-in-law Fritz Vorass, Carol (Don) Miilu, John (Eunice) Walker, Jerome (Pat) Walker, and Bob (Janine) Walker. He is further survived by nieces, nephews, other relatives, and friends.
Ranger was preceded in death by his parents, brother Ken, his sisters, Marcela, Jean, Zela, and Carole and his brother-in-law Timothy.
Ranger served in the Army when he was young. At one point he worked at the local Dairy Maid and set pins at a bowling alley, but spent the majority of his adult life as a machinist. He worked at Evinrude in Milwaukee, West Bend Company, Chrysler, and Bayliner in Hartford, then Mercury Marine in Fond du Lac before retiring in 2000.
Ranger will be remembered for his brilliant sense of humor, his hilarious comebacks, and for making silly faces…usually when we were trying to take a photo. His grandchildren delighted in his puns, as ridiculous as they were, and his sassy comments. Ranger would do silly things, like pointing at the sky in Jackson Square in New Orleans just to see who was paying attention and to make people laugh. He had a collection of witty shirts that he wore mostly as conversation starters. A favorite of the grandkids was one that says, “I’m about to do something AWESOME!” He had the foresight (or misfortune) to wear it once at Disney World and entertained his family thoroughly with his retorts to the cast members who attempted to witness his awesomeness.
In addition to entertaining his kids and grandkids, Ranger also enjoyed fishing, watching the Brewers and Packers, gardening, and traveling with family. In recent years, he had traveled to Italy and Switzerland on a grand adventure with Michal. He also crossed off parts of his bucket list with trips to Alaska, California, the Bahamas, and Brewers spring training in Arizona. He loved to travel cross-country by train, but enjoyed the luxury of a cruise as well.
Funeral services for Ranger will be held on Friday, November 15, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. at Shimon Funeral Home, 824 Union Sr. Hartford, WI 53027, with Rev. Frank Baiocchi officiating. The family will greet relatives and friends at the funeral home on Friday from 4:00 p.m. until the 6:00 p.m. service.
