Gary Ashwill, formerly of Kimball, died quietly in his sleep on Easter Sunday at Johnson Memorial Hospital in Franklin, Ind., following a very brief battle with cancer. He was 73.
A family memorial will take place later this year in Minnesota.
Gary Lee Ashwill was born Aug. 20, 1949, in St. Cloud to Leonard and Mabel (Jacobson) Ashwill. He grew up on his family farm. He graduated with the Class of 1967 from Kimball High School, and then graduated from St. Cloud College. Gary married Audry Ann Erpelding on July 5, 1969, and worked his way through college at Spaulding Auto Body Shop in Kimball. Following college, he was employed by Kraft Foodservice for several years. As he advanced with Kraft, he was transferred to Minneapolis, Chicago, and Cleveland, and finally came to Indianapolis where he lived for 40 years. He became a sheet metal worker at Air Equipment & Engineering in the late ’80s until retirement.
Gary attended Holy Name of Jesus Catholic Church. He enjoyed spending time with his family, gardening (a transplanted farmer), crafting dioramas, writing, water classes at the Baxter Y, and most recently visits to Range U.S.A. (although he had not aimed at an animal since the early ’70s).
Gary was preceded in death by his parents, brother Don Ashwill, and sisters Gladys Ashwill and Janet Adams.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years Audry Ashwill of Bargersville, Ind.; daughter Dione Ashwill (and Tom Butts) of Beech Grove; granddaughter Dorothy Butts of Beech Grove; and siblings Thad (and Diana) Ashwill of Annandale, and Nancy Harbinson of Buffalo.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be sent in Gary’s memory to the Holy Name of Catholic Church, 89 N. 17th Ave., Beech Grove IN 46107. Arrangements are being handled by Simplicity Funeral and Cremation Care.