Milton “Lane” Ash passed away peacefully at his home in Elgin, Iowa with his family on Wednesday, September 25, 2024. Lane was born in West Union, Iowa on May 31, 1935 to Gladyce Oral (Lane) Ash and Herbert Milton Ash. He was baptized at Bethel Presbyterian Church in West Union.
Lane graduated from Elgin High School in 1953. He joined the United States Air Force in August of 1953 and served for four years. For three years, he was stationed in Germany as a Radar Operator for the 615th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron, receiving the rank of Staff Sergeant. After his honorable discharge in 1958, he farmed with his father and brother in rural Elgin and attended night school on the GI bill.
During that time, he met Elizabeth Roach of West Union. They married on September 28, 1959 at Holy Name Catholic Church in West Union. In 1961, Lane and Liz bought a dairy farm south of Elgin where they raised their four children—Mark, David, and twins Lane and Lisa. Lane also earned his private pilot’s license during this time.
In 1974 Lane began work as a farm representative for Elgin State Bank, later retiring in 1999 as vice president.
Lane served on many boards of directors in his community—the Valley Co-Op Board, Fayette County Extension Council, Elgin Cemetery Board, Elgin Public Library trustee, Elgin Historical Society, Tribes of the Turkey River board, Elgin Lions Club, Elgin State Bank board, and Saint Peter’s church council. He served many years as Pleasant Valley Township Clerk and was an active member of Elgin American Legion Post 352. He was a 65-year member of Saint Peter’s Catholic Church.
Lane is survived by his wife of almost 65 years, Elizabeth (Liz), sons Mark (Diana) Ash, Dave (Kamalee) Ash, Lane M. Ash, and daughter Lisa Ash (Richard Baillargeon), grandchildren Matthew Ash, Lindsey (John) Martin, Alexander Ash, Michael Ash, his brother Crayton (Judy) Ash, niece Mindy Ash (Dave Olson), and nephew Steven Ash.
Lane was preceded in death by his parents Herbert and Gladyce Oral Ash, loving granddaughter Ruth McMurrin and nephew Christopher Ash.
Memorials can be made to Friends of the Elgin Public Library or the Elgin Historical Society.
A visitation will be held from 4:00 pm until 6:00 pm on Monday, September 30, 2024 at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Clermont, Iowa. There will also be a one hour visitation before mass time at the church on Tuesday.
Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 11:00 am on Tuesday, October 1, 2024 at Saint Peter’s Catholic Church in Clermont, Iowa with Reverend Ralph Davis as the celebrant.
Inurnment with Military Rites will follow at the Elgin Cemetery in Elgin, Iowa.
Leonard-Grau Funeral Home and Cremation Service of Elgin, Iowa is assisting the family with services.