Rodney "Rod" Ian Ashcroft

Rodney Ian was born February 5, 1953 to Cromar and Eunice Ashcroft. He was the third of a family of five: David, Molly, Rodney, Randy and Dean. Rodney lived on the home farm his whole life and got married to Georgette Desrosiers in July 1974 - recently celebrating 50 years in summer 2024. They raised three sons: Morgan, Emory and Booth. Rod had cattle and grain and in his last few days with us specifically noted loving the sight of newborn calves laying on the fresh straw in the sunshine. In the mid-80's most of the cattle went away in favor of a new winter venture: PMU. He understandably loved watching the new foals take their first few steps and it was a bonus that foals arrived a couple months later than calves used to. He loved the spring when the grass grew, the leaves arrived and everything came to life. Rod loved everything about horses, riding and driving from a very young age. Over the years he participated in local summer fairs, volunteered sleigh rides for countless families in the towns of Birtle, Shoal Lake, Foxwarren and loved sleigh rides into Riding Mountain National Park. He was a part of several organizations including the Lions Club, the Birtle Ag Society, the Hospital Board, the Vestry and the Legion. Losing his sight several years ago was hard on him but he kept on with the things he could do like listening to country music, horse trips as a passenger to the U.S. and western Canada with his horse buddies and rides on the side-by-side around the farmyard with his grandkids. Rod's grandchildren will remember him for his never ending supply of ice cream, kit-kat bars and Brisk iced tea. He loved when the kids were around but always grew sad when they were driving out of the yard. For 72 years dad was at the home farm - watching different family that would leave the yard bound for their homes - and while we're going to miss him immeasurably, we are comforted to know that he is once again driving his beloved horses in his final home. 

Rod is survived by his loving wife of nearly 51 years, Georgette, sons Morgan (Amy - Case, Reid), Emory (Christine - Maddex, Sawyer, Easton), Booth (Tara - Brixten, Aspen), siblings Molly (John Douglass),Randy (Christine), Dean (Carla), in-laws Sally Ashcroft, Juliette Huberdeau, Reme Desrosiers and many neices and nephews. He was predeceased by his parents Cromar and Eunice, brother Dave, nephew Bradley, in-laws Harvey and Hilda Desrosiers, Edmond Huberdeau and Rosario Huberdeau.