Clifford "Bruce" Ashenfelter

Clifford “Bruce” Ashenfelter, 87, Minocqua, passed away Monday evening, February 20, 2012, after a brief illness. He was born February 7, 1925 in Racine, WI, to Dorthea (Chartrand) and William Clifford Ashenfelter. He graduated fromHorlick High School in Racine, attended Univ. of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. Bruce was a Lieutenant in the U.S. Navy during World War II serving in the South Pacific, and also served in the U.S. Naval Reserve. Bruce went to work for Johnson Controls (JCI) in 1948 as a Sales Engineer (Minneapolis). In the 36 years that he worked for JCI he became Assistant Branch Manager, Los Angeles, and later the Branch Manager. He then moved back to Minneapolis as Midwest Regional Manager, then West Coast Regional Manager (San Francisco). Bruce then moved to Toronto, Canada as President of JCI Canada. Ultimately he finished as Vice President of Sales for JCI corporate in Milwaukee, retiring in 1986. Because of his love of flying Bruce started a business in Hartford, Wisconsin called Kettle Moraine Aviation. He sold the business in the mid 1990s. Bruce had many hobbies. The great passion of his life was flying, but he also loved snow skiing, water skiing, and snowmobiling. He enjoyed golfing, boating, motorcycling, and classic cars. He spent time rebuilding and then flying vintage War Birds: PT-17 (Stearman), SNJ-4 (Texan), and P-51 (Mustang) airplanes. In 2001, Bruce met JoAnn Hanaway while traveling in Germany. They brought joy to each other spending the last eleven years together, enjoying their retirement, traveling, and sharing the beauty of northern Wisconsin. Bruce is survived by his wife, JoAnn Hanaway; two children: Timothy Paul Ashenfelter (Joanne), Mound, MN, and Mary Jane Kedzierski (Robert L.), West Allis, WI; brothers: Ronald (Wanda) and John “Jack” Ashenfelter; grandchildren: Paul, Christine Leinfelder (Andrew), Thomas; also grandchildren: Genevieve, Clifford Bruce II, and Alexander, and their mother, Linda Kelsey. He is also survived by JoAnn’s children: Dr. Patrick Hanaway (Dr. Lisa Lichtig), Mary Kay Peterson (Tom), Dr. Michael Hanaway (Mary), and Maureen Carlson (Todd); and JoAnn’s nine grandchildren. Bruce was preceded in death by his first wife, Helen Jane (Erickson) Ashenfelter; son, William Clifford Ashenfelter II; sister, Elaine Bruce; brother, James; and sister-in-law, Sharon. Bruce was much loved for his kind and gentle soul. He will be dearly missed and fondly remembered by his wife, children, grandchildren and extended family. A memorial service will be held later this spring for friends and family in Hartford, WI. Cotter Funeral Home Cremation Services, 860 N. Webster Ave., De Pere, is assisting the family with arrangements. Online condolences may be sent to Bruce’s family at www.cotterfuneralhome.com. Donations are preferred, in lieu of flowers, to Wounded Warrior Project, 4899 Belfort Rd, Ste. 300, Jacksonville, FL 32256. or visit www.woundedwarriorproject.org.