Obituary for James W. "Jim" Ashcraft
James William Ashcraft, 46, of Crystal Falls, Mich., passed away Friday, January 6, 2023, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison after a lengthy admission on the Neuroscience Floor with his family by his side.
Jim was born on May 29, 1976, at Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois. He grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois, until his father’s passing in 1993. He spent many summers in Amasa with his Grandma Olson, and after his father passed on, he and his mother relocated to Crystal Falls, Michigan.
Jim went to school most of his formative years in Bolingbrook, and moved to Crystal Falls his Senior Year of high school. He graduated from Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls, Mich., in 1994 and went off to basic training and AIT at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was a member of the National Guard for 5 years. Jim got his Automation Technology Associate’s Degree at Bay de Noc in 2011. In 2015, Jim started an apprenticeship with the Carpenter & Millwrights Local 1510. He became a Journeyman Millwright in 2019. He loved his job and his work “brothers.” Jim worked all over the country and had many stories to tell when he would get back from being on the road.
In High School Art Class, Jim met Adelle Anderson. He always said it was love at first sight. They dated for six years and then married on July 10, 1999; this summer, they would have celebrated 30 years together and 24 years married. They had a daughter, Victoria, in 2001 and a son, James in 2004. Together they built a wonderful life and had so many great years together. He was a very family-oriented man and worked so hard to give them the life he did.
Jim had such a great sense of humor and could always make people smile. He loved dancing and listening to music as well. Jim loved Jeeps and collected many over the years. He loved going cruising and heading out to the cabin on Swan Lake to grill, have some drinks and just enjoy his family and friends. Jim would help anyone at the drop of a hat, and was a very loyal friend to those who knew him. We will all miss him dearly.
Jim is survived by his wife, Adelle; his daughter Victoria (Austin Meise) Ashcraft; his son James (Shealyn Curtis) Ashcraft; his mother, Patricia Ashcraft; his grandmother Joan Olson; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews. Jim is also survived by his sister, Tricia (Greg) Ashcraft-Broughton, Chatham, Illi.
He was preceded in death by his father, Terry Joe Ashcraft; his uncle, John Krizka; his aunt, Margaret Krizka; his uncle, James William Krizka; and his maternal grandfather, John Krizka.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 9:00 am until 10:30 am, at the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls. Mich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, 11:00 am, at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls with Father Jeffrey Kurtz officiating. A luncheon will be held at The Infield following the service.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Jim’s family at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Crystal Falls, Mich., to honor Jim’s legacy of life.
Jim was born on May 29, 1976, at Holy Family Hospital in Des Plaines, Illinois. He grew up in Bolingbrook, Illinois, until his father’s passing in 1993. He spent many summers in Amasa with his Grandma Olson, and after his father passed on, he and his mother relocated to Crystal Falls, Michigan.
Jim went to school most of his formative years in Bolingbrook, and moved to Crystal Falls his Senior Year of high school. He graduated from Forest Park High School in Crystal Falls, Mich., in 1994 and went off to basic training and AIT at Fort McClellan, Alabama. He was a member of the National Guard for 5 years. Jim got his Automation Technology Associate’s Degree at Bay de Noc in 2011. In 2015, Jim started an apprenticeship with the Carpenter & Millwrights Local 1510. He became a Journeyman Millwright in 2019. He loved his job and his work “brothers.” Jim worked all over the country and had many stories to tell when he would get back from being on the road.
In High School Art Class, Jim met Adelle Anderson. He always said it was love at first sight. They dated for six years and then married on July 10, 1999; this summer, they would have celebrated 30 years together and 24 years married. They had a daughter, Victoria, in 2001 and a son, James in 2004. Together they built a wonderful life and had so many great years together. He was a very family-oriented man and worked so hard to give them the life he did.
Jim had such a great sense of humor and could always make people smile. He loved dancing and listening to music as well. Jim loved Jeeps and collected many over the years. He loved going cruising and heading out to the cabin on Swan Lake to grill, have some drinks and just enjoy his family and friends. Jim would help anyone at the drop of a hat, and was a very loyal friend to those who knew him. We will all miss him dearly.
Jim is survived by his wife, Adelle; his daughter Victoria (Austin Meise) Ashcraft; his son James (Shealyn Curtis) Ashcraft; his mother, Patricia Ashcraft; his grandmother Joan Olson; and several aunts, uncles, cousins, and nieces and nephews. Jim is also survived by his sister, Tricia (Greg) Ashcraft-Broughton, Chatham, Illi.
He was preceded in death by his father, Terry Joe Ashcraft; his uncle, John Krizka; his aunt, Margaret Krizka; his uncle, James William Krizka; and his maternal grandfather, John Krizka.
A visitation will be held on Saturday, January 28, 2023, from 9:00 am until 10:30 am, at the Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home, Crystal Falls. Mich. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held Saturday, 11:00 am, at the Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Crystal Falls with Father Jeffrey Kurtz officiating. A luncheon will be held at The Infield following the service.
Friends may leave condolences and tributes to Jim’s family at www.jacobsfuneralhomes.com.
The family has chosen Jacobs-Plowe Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Crystal Falls, Mich., to honor Jim’s legacy of life.