Brad Lee Ashenfelter

1962 - 2018

(03/10/1962-10/13/2017)
On Oct. 13, 2017, right before the snow flew, Brad Lee Ashenfelter left us unexpectedly. He was a devoted and loyal husband to Sandy and loving father to Jimmy and Josh. Brad was born in Janesville, Wisconsin, in 1962, the youngest of three boys. After graduating from J.A. Craig High School, he joined the U.S. Army and served our country in Germany during the Cold War. After serving three years active duty and three years on reserve, he was honorably discharged and became a long haul truck driver. In 1990, he finally made his promise come true of moving away to Alaska. His family and friends dared him to actually make the move, and, in true Brad fashion, he packed up his truck and headed north.
Once he arrived, he found employment with Swan Drilling, where he worked in all and any positions that needed to be filled. Afterward, he was employed with Fort Knox as a heavy equipment operator for five years, after which he went to work for the Alaska Railroad, loading and unloading freight for three years. He left the train yard in 2006 for Alaska Department of Transportation and worked once again as a heavy equipment operator, eventually becoming the lead operator for his crew. During his employment with DOT, he received two Governor's Awards for saving two people who had slipped off the road while driving in dark winter conditions. They were separate incidents and his sharp eye spotted the vehicles and thus saved two lives.
Brad was an avid hunter who only missed two falls without coming home with a moose for the family. He taught his two sons how to hunt and raised them to be good men. He brought them to their property on his beloved boat, Poppa's Pride, which he loved for the freedom it gave him to get away and explore. He took his boys down the Nenana River, where they spent 10 years building and perfecting their cabin, where many happy times were spent by the family enjoying the great Alaska outdoors. He also managed to hunt one of the top 50 grizzlies recorded in the state while taking time off and "relaxing."
He met the love of his life and partner in crime, Sandra (Sandy), on July 17, 1998, and even asked her son, Josh, to accompany them on their first dinner date. They married March 1, 2002, and thus began a happy and loving partnership, creating a home in which they raised two energetic and rambunctious boys. Sandy's greatest joy was cooking him gourmet meals when he was home from his two-week shift and handing over the TV remote so he could sit back and relax. He indulged her in her affection for miniature Dachshunds and even became attached to one himself, Daisy. In addition to loving his wife, his sons and Daisy, he also loved music. His favorite was Ted Nugent's "Fred Bear," which epitomized his love of the outdoors and hunting.
Brad Ashenfelter is greatly missed and is still loved by those he left behind, so much that words cannot express the loss they feel every day. He is survived by his wife, Sandy Ashenfelter; and son, Jimmie Douglas. He was preceded in death by son, Joshua Douglas; and mother Sharon Ashenfleter. Surviving members of his family in Wisconsin mourn his loss as well. Brad's celebration of life will be held at 9 a.m. Aug. 16 at the Chapel of Chimes, followed by a burial service with full military honors at Birch Hill Cemetery. The family wishes in lieu of flowers that you join the service; just your presence will be appreciated to honor Brad's memory.