Kevin Daniel Ash, 34, beloved son, grandson, brother, uncle and friend, formerly of Owatonna, Minnesota, passed away at 12:50 a.m. on Jan. 15, 2017, from complications due to a traumatic brain injury that he sustained playing rugby on Sept. 21, 2013.

Kevin is survived by his maternal grandparents, John P. and Doris Carlson of Newark, Ohio; his mother, Joy Carlson Kieffer of Buffalo, Minnesota; step-father, Steve Martin of Owatonna; his father and step-mother, Daniel and Gloria Ash of Austin, Minnesota; his brother, Connor Martin of Buffalo; his sister, Erica Ash (Dusty Gibson) of Paintsville, Kentucky; his nephew, Gunner Gibson; numerous aunts, uncles and cousins, and other family and friends. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Howard Ash and Marianne Ash of Cornell, Wisconsin; his great-grandmothers, Minnie Ash and Ruth Brown Hammer, also of Cornell, Wisconsin, Peter and Gladys Carlson of Wheaton, Minnesota, and Mae Ellen Taylor Conklin, of Newark, Ohio.

Visitation will be held at the David Lee Funeral Home from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 20. A memorial service will be held at noon on Saturday, Jan. 21, at David Lee Funeral Home, 1220 E Wayzata Blvd., Wayzata, Minnesota. Burial with military honors will be held at Fort Snelling Cemetery later this spring.

Memorial donations may be given in honor of Sgt. Kevin Ash to any of the following organizations: Wounded Warrior Family Support, Wounded Warriors, Freedom Farm, Star in the East Lodge, you church of choice, Concussion Legacy Foundation, Caring Bridge, or any charity of the donor’s choice. The families of Joy Kieffer and Daniel Ash wish to thank all those who held Kevin up in prayer through his deployments and these past 41 months following his injury.