Stephen David (Steve) Ashcroft 37, died at home surrounded by friends and family on Dec. 14, 2016. He is survived by his wife, Anna, his two children, Henry and Alice, his parents Rev. Ernie Ashcroft (Bette) and Rev. Mary Ellen Ashcroft (Suzanne), his siblings Andrew (Sarah) and Susannah Kallaus (Chris), stepsiblings, nieces and nephews, and a multitude of friends.
Born in South Africa, Steve was raised in the Twin Cities. He was a graduate of Minnehaha Academy, majored in African History at Kenyon College, and had been studying at Hamline University to become an elementary education teacher, a natural career choice which he had waited years for a chance to pursue, when he was diagnosed with stage IV colon cancer.
Steve placed high value on relationships and he loved making new friends wherever he went. Even in his last months he was making plans to invite new friends to dinner. He was an avid reader, a writer, an athlete, a lapsed bird watcher, and he loved a wide variety of music (except bluegrass). He was a walking encyclopedia of lyrics, and often quoted lines from songs and books to fit any context or conversation. A favorite line of Steve’s was by the band Silver Jews: “You can’t change the feeling, but you can change your feelings about the feeling.”
Steve was a dear friend to all who met him, and he will be greatly missed. A memorial service was held at St. John the Evangelist, 60 Kent St. N., St. Paul, 55102, on Sat, Jan. 7 at 1:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, please consider memorials to fund Steve’s children’s education, as well as a story of Steve to share with the family.
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