Harold “Dutch” Ashdown, 84, of Coldwater, passed
away as a result of an auto accident on August 8, 2019 in Spring Arbor, MI.
Dutch was born to Harold and Florence (Craig)
Ashdown of Union City, MI on January 21, 1935. After graduating from
Union City High School in 1953, he worked at Dancer’s department store and the
Star Mobile Home Company as a salesman. Dutch then attended Western Michigan
University in the ROTC program, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree in
business.
On April 1959, he married Marilyn “Jill” Lewis
of Battle Creek. While in the army, Harold and Marilyn moved to Ft. Riley, KS,
where he was an adjutant in the First Infantry Division.
Upon returning to
Michigan, he attended Cooley Law School. He left law school to purchase the
local Chrysler dealership, which he owned until the early 80s. During this
time, children, Lisa (1966) and David (1969) were born. Harold was a
private pilot, and the family enjoyed flying out to dinner or on vacation.
After selling the Chrysler franchise he briefly
converted vans, worked as a salesman for Eric Henkel Lincoln Mercury, Max
Larsen Ford, and drove a Special Education bus for Coldwater Community
Schools. Dutch also began buying rental properties. After retiring, he
purchased Koshar Estates, a modular home community in Marcellus, MI.
Dutch is survived by his daughter, Lisa
(Michael) Renshaw and granddaughter Mackenzie (Max) Renshaw all of Coldwater;
his son David (Jesse Trowbridge) Ashdown and granddaughter Allison Ashdown all
of Coldwater; brothers-in-law Gene (Susan) Lewis of Battle Creek, and Pete
(Claudia) Lewis of Frankfort, sister-in-law Elaine Lewis of Menominee, brother
Donald Ashdown of Lansing and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, October
26, 2019 at 11:00 AM at the United Methodist Church of Coldwater. Please
bring a piece of notebook-sized paper with your best memory of Harold to be
added to his memory book.
In lieu of flowers,
donations may be made to the Branch Area Rescue Coalition, Erin’s Angels, Animal
Aid of Branch County, the Branch District Library or U of M Cancer Center.
