Hedwig "Hedy" E. Ashcraft

Hedwig Ernestina Ashcraft, age 85, died on Sunday, October 25, 2015 in Wausau, Wisconsin. Hedy was born November 16, 1929, in St. Polten, Austria. Upon graduation from high school and secondary school for secretarial and bookkeeping studies, she worked for almost ten years at Buchhandlung Schubert, a bookshop in the city center which continues in business today. In 1954, she met the love of her life, Herbert E. Ashcraft in Salzburg, Austria, where he was stationed with the U.S. Army. They were married on July 16, 1956 in Oberstein, Germany while he was then stationed in Oberammergau, Germany. Hedy was a homemaker, raising their two daughters while they lived in several locations in the United States and Germany until returning to Herb’s home state of Indiana when he retired from the army in 1969. They lived in Morocco, Indiana for five years and moved to Rensselaer, Indiana where they remained for more than thirty-five years until moving to Wausau, Wisconsin four years ago to live nearer their daughter, Jennifer. Hedy worked for Sears and Roebuck in Rensselaer, starting part-time one Christmas season in the catalog department, to full time in the paint and appliances departments. She enjoyed her work and meeting the community, many who remember her for her Austrian accent. She enjoyed bowling, especially the Senior Citizens league in Rensselaer. Giving her much joy were her beloved dachshunds, Tinkerbell, Schniztal, Schatzy and Strudel. During their retirement years, Herb and Hedy enjoyed vacations on Long Lake in Rice Lake, Wisconsin, where they loved to boat, fish and spend time with their grandchildren. Hedy is survived by her daughters, Linda Ashcraft and her husband Ward Ackerman, Southampton, NY; Jennifer Statz and her husband Chuck Statz, Wausau, Wisconsin; grandchildren Dr. Kaitlin (Edward J.) McKenna, Milwaukee, Wisconsin; Benjamin and Luke Statz, Wausau, Wisconsin. She is preceded by her parents, Johann and Josephine (Nussbaum) Kerndl; and by her husband, Herbert E. Ashcraft who passed away in August of this year. A very special thank you to Diane Froehlich for her devoted caregiving to Hedy and Herb for the past several years. Sincere thanks and appreciation for their kindness and compassion to the dedicated caregivers at the following dementia facilities in Wausau - Our House, Stone Crest, and especially NCHC’s Garden Crossing, where Hedy resided the last months. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to a dementia or Alzheimer’s organization of your choice. A memorial service celebrating the lives of Herb and Hedy will be held at Memory Gardens Cemetery, Rensselaer, Indiana on Saturday, November 7, 2015 at 11:30 a.m. CST with Military Honors for Herb. Reverend Elizabeth Hartmann officiating.

Hedwig "Hedy" E. Ashcraft

November 16, 1929 - October 25, 2015