Ryan D. Ashley

Surrounded by family, Ryan D. Ashley passed away peacefully at the Our Lady of Peace Hospice in St. Paul on October 13, 2024. Ryan was born on January 30, 1950 to Jim and Marie Ashley. He attended Forest Hills High School in Forest Hills, Michigan where he excelled in academics and athletics. After high school, Ryan earned a BA from the University of Michigan. Ryan's first teaching position was with the Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, where he taught Chippewa Culture and History, an experience that shaped the rest of his life. After earning his MA in counseling at Northern Michigan University, he moved to Minnesota where he met and married Carol Kluznik in 1979 and raised their son, Mark Kluznik-Ashley.

Ryan was a gifted counselor and worked in various positions in the Twin City area, including the Mounds View and Chaska school districts. He and Carol also worked abroad at the American School of Warsaw, Franklin Delano Roosevelt School in Lima and the American International School in Vienna. In 2013, Carol and Ryan retired and settled into their home on Summit Avenue, to be with friends and family.

Ryan's true gift was his ability to connect with people. Over the years he gained the trust of countless students and their respective families as they navigated difficult situations and made important decisions regarding post high school choices. Ryan continued to maintain contact with many of his former students over the years. He touched the lives of so many, including family, friends, colleagues, students and families. His integrity, humor, joyfulness and love of life were essential aspects of his personality. He had a knack for making friends wherever he went.

Ryan was an excellent cook and delighted in entertaining guests with dishes he had prepared. Over the years he enjoyed playing softball, golf and biking. Ryan was never without a book as he was a voracious reader since his childhood. Ryan was also a gifted writer. Over a period of several years, he worked on a historical fiction novel entitled The End is the Bearwalk, based on a Native American family and spanning three generations, from the 1700s to the 1970s. It is a story that he felt deeply compelled to write because of his experiences with the Keeweenaw Bay Indian Community in Michigan. One of Ryan's disappointments was his realization that the book would remain unfinished.

Ryan was preceded in death by his parents, Jim and Marie (Holmes) Ashley and brothers Don and Kim. He is survived by Carol Kluznik, his wife of 45 years; son Mark Kluznik-Ashley; granddaughter Alexis Kluznik-Ashley; brother Randy (Barb); brothers-in-law John Kluznik, Ted Kluznik (Nancy) and Mike Kluznik; plus many nieces, nephews and friends.

A Celebration of Life is planned for November 1 at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Avenue, White Bear Lake, Minnesota with a service at 3:00 pm and fellowship to follow.

Our family is eternally grateful for the care provided by the exceptional staff at Our Lady of Peace Hospice. In lieu of flowers the family would prefer donations to Our Lady of Peace Hospice in 2076 St. Anthony Avenue, St. Paul, Minnesota 55104.