Alice Mae (Javorsky) Ashbaugh, 98, passed away Sept. 17, 2025, at Vista West senior community in Madison, Wisconsin.
Alice was born on a farm outside of Wilber and attended school in a one-room school house until attending Wilber High School, from which she graduated in 1944. She attended secretarial school in Lincoln and then worked in the Nebraska State Capitol. In 1948, she married Wilford Ashbaugh, a high school classmate, and they were married for over 71 years. During their marriage, they lived in Nebraska, Wisconsin, Hawaii, Virginia and Iowa.
Alice was an excellent cook and renowned for her kolaches. A couple of weeks before she passed away, she was asked about her favorite flavor of kolache. “The one I’m eating.” was her response. She did various crafts, tried many recipes, and kept house as a stay-at-home mom. She was very proud of her Czech heritage and a “Vítáme Vás!” (“We welcome you!”) sign always hung in her home.
At various times in her life, she was an avid swimmer, bowler, and enjoyed walking. As kind and loving as she was, she was also tough as nails – just ask the two home invaders she scared off a few years ago in the middle of the night while living alone.
Alice is survived by daughters, Barbara (Jack) Pavlat of Virginia Beach, Virginia, and Beverly (Jack) Barber of Temecula, California; and her son, Donald (s/o Diane) Ashbaugh of Fitchburg, Wisconsin. She is also survived by her grandchildren, Jason (Jessica) Barber of Temecula, Kelsey Barber of Temecula, Kyle (Jackie) Barber of Murietta, California, Alyssa (Ignacio) Ortega of Sacramento, California, and Isaak “Ike” (fiancé Val) Ashbaugh of San Diego, California; great-grandchildren, Daniel, Brenley, Aubrey, Nolan, and Camila; and many nieces and nephews and grand nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilford Ashbaugh; parents, Agnes Vosika and John Javorsky; her brother and his wife, Kenneth and Anne Javorsky; and her granddaughter, Suzanne Pavlat.
Per Alice’s request, there will be no public service. Her ashes will be laid to rest in the Wilber Czech Cemetery.
"What we have once enjoyed and deeply loved we can never lose, for all that we love deeply becomes a part of us." Helen Keller.
