Norman Ashcraft 1936-2024
Norman Eugene Ashcraft, 87, died Thursday, Aug. 29, 2024.
He was born at his uncle’s farm east of Holton on Sept. 2, 1936, to Raymond R. and Helen (Meagher) Ashcraft. Living on a farm, Norman attended different country schools and graduated from Denison High School in 1954.
Being an only boy with two older and two younger sisters, Norman used to sing “I’m A Lonely Little Petunia In An Onion Patch.” Just like his father, Norman was good-natured and enjoyed teasing friends and companions.
Upon graduating high school, he entered the U.S. Navy at the age of 17. He took his basic training at Camp Dewey, Great Lakes, Ill. Following the completion of basic training, Norman was assigned to the USS Toledo, a heavy cruiser, where he served the last part of the Korean War and the remainder of his enlistment. He was the captain’s phone talker during general quarters, a term meaning battle mode. Norman was honorably discharged in September of 1957 as a PN3.
Upon returning home, Norman worked for Petree Propane until his hire at the Dupont Cellophane Factory in Tecumseh, where he worked for 11 years before embarking on his career as an American Family Insurance agent in Holton for 34 years.
On Oct. 31, 1958, Norman married Loma Rita Haley. They later divorced. Of this marriage was born three sons.
Norman enjoyed his three sons and their many activities. One of his greatest pleasures was teaching his sons to camp, hunt and fish and spending time with them encouraging their interests. He became a little league coach, 4-H leathercraft leader, and a Webelo Scout Leader, and he coached his boys’ adult co-rec softball team. He was a storm spotter and belonged to the Mounted Sheriff’s Posse. Norman was a member of the VFW and American Legion, and the Holton Masonic Lodge 42 AF&AM. He was always a country-boy at heart and enjoyed raising Hereford and then Angus cattle.
In 1999, Norman married Linda Ann Garber and moved to a small 10-acre farm south of Circleville. They both enjoyed gardening and had a large garden from which they canned and froze their bountiful crop. He also had a John Deere tractor and hay equipment for his cattle. His cows were his relaxation after working in the office with people all day. Later Norm and Linda moved to Sabetha, where Linda worked. Norman worked two days a week at Hardware Hank’s for two years.
He is survived by his wife Linda, sons David (Debbie) of Holton, Denny (Donna) of Mayetta, Doug (Theresa) of Topeka and Andrew (Megan) Garber of Maumelle, Ark.; grandchildren Trevor, Bailey, Dalton and Darcee Ashcraft, all of Holton, Zeb Ashcraft (Erica) of Leavenworth and Andre, Karlyn, Roman and Beckett Garber, all of Maumelle, Ark.; four sisters, Ruby Battey of Colorado, Hazel Balthazar, Topeka, Jean Marie Browne, Topeka, and Marilyn (George) Wenk, Holton; three stepgranddaughters; seven stepgreat-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews, as well as several grandnieces and grandnephews.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 5 at Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial with military honors will follow in Holton Cemetery. Norman will lie in state beginning Tuesday. Family will greet friends 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Holton Ball Association, Holton Cub Scouts or Sabetha Hospital Hospice, sent in care of Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com
(PAID OBITUARY)
