Ashok Kumar (1961-2026)

Ashok Kumar, 65, of Saint Louis, Missouri, passed away peacefully at home on January 15, 2026, surrounded by loved ones.

Ashok was born in Bela, Pakistan, in 1961 to Nirmala Jethani and the late Dalut Ram. He was the eldest in his family with four siblings, Lala, Prem, Hari, and Gaytri. From a young age, he helped his father run the family clothing store. Driven by a deep love of learning, Ashok pursued medicine at Dow University of Health Sciences in Karachi, Pakistan, where he formed lifelong friendships and met his wife, Drupadi.

Guided by an adventurous spirit, Ashok and Drupadi traveled to the United Kingdom for orthopedic surgery training before eventually settling in Saint Louis, Missouri. There, he completed his residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Washington University School of Medicine. Dr. Kumar practiced at Signature Orthopedic South County for over 25 years and was deeply loved and respected by his colleagues and patients alike.

Ashok dedicated his life to service, both professionally and within his community. He was an active leader with Bal Vihar of Saint Louis and the Hindu and Durga Temples of Saint Louis. He was also an initiated member and devoted practitioner of the International Society of Krishna Consciousness.

Ashok found great joy in running and completed multiple marathons with his daughter, Komal. He was a passionate Liverpool FC fan and cherished watching countless matches with his son, Krishna. He enjoyed sampling homemade baked breads with his family and warmly welcomed his daughter-in-law, Ashley, to the family in 2023. Above all, Ashok treasured his role as a grandfather to Maya.

Ashok's vibrant energy, boundless enthusiasm, and selflessness will be profoundly missed by his family and the Saint Louis community.

Services:  Visitation will be held in the FAMILY CENTER at the SCHRADER Funeral Home and Crematory, 14960 Manchester Road, Ballwin, on Saturday, January 17, with visitation beginning at 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m.  Private Family service to begin at 1:00 p.m. In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made in Ashok's honor to ISKCON of STL or ALS Association.