John A. Ashley

A Funeral Service for John A. Ashley will be held on Friday, December 3, 2021, at 2:00 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege, Nebraska with Pastor Jean Clayton officiating.  Interment will follow at the Prairie Home Cemetery in Holdrege.

The funeral service will be live streamed via the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Homes Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/Nelson-Bauer-Funeral-Homes-111601113801622

John Arthur Ashley, 85 years of age, of Holdrege, passed away, on November 23, 2021, at his home in Holdrege.  John was born in Holdrege, on October 25, 1936, the fifth of seven children, born to Glenn Raymond and Ellen Hedwig Gustava (Westergren) Ashley.  He started his primary education at the Cracker Box country school in Harlan County and then attended Atlanta Public School for one year, before starting at Ragan Public School, where he later graduated with the class of 1954.

Following his education, John worked at Woodring's Custom Combining and then as an electrician, wiring schools in Kansas. In 1958, John started his service in the National Guard.  Shortly after his return from training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he met the love of his life, Janet Marquis and on December 30, 1961, the couple were married at the First Baptist Church in Holdrege. To this union four children were born: Bradley, Linette, Tami, and Lisa.  The couple made their home in Holdrege, where John drove a Semi for Speedway, hauling cattle. In 1976, John began working as a mechanic at Case IH and retired after 29 years. John loved to work, so he started at Allmand Brothers and worked for 7 years, until his second retirement at 74 years of age.

John enjoyed wordsearches, mowing his lawn, and playing fast pitch softball, where he was one heck of a pitcher.  He was a simple guy, but above all he loved to be outside with his family.

He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Holdrege, where he was baptized and served wherever he was needed, including as a Deacon and Trustee. Most recently, John was a member of Trinity Evangelical Free Church in Holdrege.

John will be remembered for his hard work ethic and fierce love for his family.

John was preceded in death by: his parents; one brother, Anders Ashley; four sisters: Merle Motley and her husband, Clyde; Phyllis Konzack and her husband, Owen; Estella Ashley, and Ardith Ashley; father and mother–in–law, Bill and Doris Marquis; and two brothers-in-law: Steve Marquis; and Jerry Marquis

John is survived by his wife, Janet Ashley of Holdrege; four children: Bradley Ashley and his wife, Tamila of Holdrege; Linette Chewey and her husband, Lee of Broken Arrow, Oklahoma; Tami Ashley and her husband, Jeff DeWitt of Lincoln; Lisa Neil and her husband, Russ of Adams, Nebraska; eight grandchildren: Jessica David and her husband, Brett; Zach Ashley; Kaylee Chewy; Seth Chewy; Jared Ashley; Johnathan Neil and his wife, Charrissa; Hannah Neil; Jacob Neil; five great-grandchildren: Kollyns, Barrett, and Boone David; Malcolm and Oliver Neil; one sister, LaDonna Schluterbusch and her husband, Larry of Sidney, Nebraska; three sisters-in-law: Susan Ashley; Nancy Pillan and her husband, Todd; and Cindy Marquis; along with a host of nieces and nephews, other relatives and friends.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, December 2, 2021 from 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. with family greeting friends from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege.

A memorial has been established in John's honor, and kindly suggested to the family for later designation.

Expressions of caring and kindness can be sent to the family at www.nelsonbauerfh.com

The Nelson-Bauer Funeral Home in Holdrege is in charge of the arrangements.