Mary Raechel Axmear, 14 Aug 1917 – 05 Sept 2012

AXMEAR, HIGGINS, SCHULTZ

Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 10/3/2012 at 15:17:46

Mary Raechel Axmear was born on August 14, 1917 near Keswick, IA, the daughter of Leo M. And Griselda Schultz Higgins. Her mother died when she was three years old. She was raised in the Sigourney and Keswick communities by Leo and her stepmother Cleo.

She graduated from Keswick High School and then AIB in Des Moines. Raechel worked as a switchboard operator for the Keswick Phone Company and later for Modern Cooperative Telephone Company in South English until her retirement in 1982.

Raechel married Edgar J. (Heavy) Axmear on January 11, 1942, at her parents home near Keswick. They made their home in Keswick where Edgar managed the Lumber Yard before going into the banking business. Raechel and Edgar also operated E & R Insurance for many years.

Edgar preceded her in death in December 1992. Raechel moved to Sigourney in 2007. She was a 65 year member of the American legion Auxilary, the Sorden Cemetery Association and the Red Hats.

Raechel, age 95, died following a brief illness on Wednesday, September 5, 2012, at the Keokuk County Health Center in Sigourney.

She is survived by several nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband and her sister Jo Anne.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 10:30 AM on Saturday, September 8, 2012, at the United Methodist Church in Keswick, with the Rev. John Tunnicliff officiating. Visitation will be from 6 PM to 8 PM Friday, September 7th at the Powell Funeral Home in North English.

Burial will be in the Sorden Cemetery, rural Webster.

A general memorial fund has been established . Messages and tributes may be left at www.powellfuneralhomes.com under obituaries.

Powell Funeral Homes
Published in The English Valleys Star, 12 Sept 2012, pg 4
Published in The Gazette Sept 6, 2012