Wanda Ashman

Wanda (Wendy Mukluk) Loraine Ashman died November 1, 2025 from acute exacerbation of interstitial lung disease while also dealing with dermatomyositis, breast cancer and numerous complications from radiation and chemotherapy treatment. Wendy always said s/he wasn’t fighting or battling cancer, but was tolerating it with whimpering acceptance. S/he had previously survived stage 4 colon cancer with liver metastasis.

Wendy was born March 11, 1949 to Hubert C. Ashman, MD, and Alicia Wanda Koninska Ashman in Madison WI. S/he attended Randall Elementary and West Junior and Senior high schools. Wendy moved to San Francisco, California in 1970 where s/he began documenting in writings, art and photographs the vibrant gay subculture pre AIDS. S/he lived in a commune, Mukluk Manor, meeting people from around the world. S/he earned an Associate in Science degree from City College of San Francisco in Photography in 1977. After the AIDS epidemic decimated the San Francisco gay community, Wendy moved back to Madison, Wisconsin and settled on the near west side where s/he returned to school at the University of Wisconsin, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Art in 1983, and later earning a second Bachelor of Science degree in Physics in 1991. 

S/he was heavily involved in Student Labor Action Coalition (SLAC) during her time at the UW. Wendy worked for many years as a DARS coder for the UW until her retirement. Wendy was a brilliant, creative, stubborn, fiercely independent, and prolific artist, writer, and photographer. S/he leaves behind tens of thousands of photographs, slides, drawings, etchings, prints, journals and manuscripts and hundreds upon hundreds of friends. 

Wendy is survived by siblings, Alice Ashman Malacara, Philip Ashman, Martha (Larry Fay) Ashman and nephew Jacob (Jaclyn) Ashman Grob and Zoe (Jan Siemaszko) Grob. S/he was predeceased by her parents and niece, Rebecca Corry Grob.