Support The Ashby Family After Their Sudden Loss

My father, Brad Ashby, passed away very suddenly early Saturday morning (February 8th) from a heart attack (a possible complication from his recent knee replacement).

Dad died just a week before his 65th birthday, and left behind my Mom, Diane (who loved my dad dearly throughout their 36 years of marriage), two children, Jason & Sarah (me), and two grandsons, Everett & Nolan.

We held a quaint memorial service/celebration of life for Dad, on his birthday, February 16th. Despite the lack of frills, the cost to lay my dad to rest was still roughly $9,000.

My dad worked his entire adult life, and spent the past 40+ years working as a service advisor for most of the major auto dealerships in the Des Moines metro.

He loved his job and always made it a point to never try to sell his customers on services their cars didn't really need. This honesty, along with his goofy sense of humor, built him a loyal customer base, and the respect of those he worked with, from mechanics to general managers.

Despite all of his hard work, because my dad died at the age of 64 (rather than, say, 70), the Social Security survivor benefits my mom will get are only about 1/4 the amount my dad was bringing home while working, and only half what it would be had he been able to work a few more years.

Because of this, my mom will likely have to move from the home I was raised in, into a townhome or apartment, and won't be able to retire, despite being past retirement age.

My mom was a substitute teacher for the Southeast Polk school district for 10 years, and has worked with adults with disabilities for the past 15+ years.

I don't want her to have to continue working full-time. She deserves to be able to retire and volunteer, giving back to the community, at a pace she can comfortably maintain. And I know she will! She's already talked about wanting to volunteer with Caring Hands in Altoona.