Alma Elizabeth Axtell (1928-2022)

AXTELL, ESTABROOK, WAKEFIELD

Posted By: Ken Wright (email)
Date: 5/21/2022 at 08:37:18

Alma Elizabeth (Wakefield) Axtell passed away surrounded by family peacefully on May 18, 2022.

Funeral services will be held on Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 11:00 A.M. at Snyder & Hollenbaugh Funeral & Cremation Services, Muscatine. Casket Bearers will be Adam, Nick, BJ, Lodden, James and Scott Axtell. Visitation will be held on Wednesday from 9:00 A.M. until service time at the funeral home. Interment will be held in Muscatine Memorial Park Cemetery. Immediately following the interment, a time of food and fellowship will be held at the Musserville United Methodist Church. A memorial fund has been established at the funeral home in Alma’s name. Online Condolences may be left for Alma’s family at www.sandhfuneralservice.com .

She was born on February 6, 1928 to Walter and Laura Bell (Estabrook) Wakefield of Illinois City, Illinois. Brothers- Frank and Delbert, Sisters, Eva, and Edith. She was married to Harold Arthur Axtell for over 50 years.

Alma had an infectious laugh that could be heard above a crowd. In her young life she worked at McKee button factory, graduated from Muscatine High School. After she married she spent most of her life being a housewife, having Harold’s lunch ready each day at noon when Harold came home from Kriegers. She touched many lives through day care, she provided loving care for all ages of children sometimes many at a time for many years. She was proud to be a block parent, and had her star in the window so if a child was in danger hers was a safe house. She worked at the Holiday Inn for a period of time doing house cleaning until she fell and broke her arm. She also worked as a food demonstrator at the Sun Mart store occasionally. Alma loved family gatherings. We knew before each one we would get several phone calls from her asking her if we were coming. She was a member of Musserville UMC , as she went there with her family when they moved to the south end of Muscatine. She loved music and was a talented guitar and piano player (playing by ear) as well as a singer and yodeler.

Alma (who never had a driver’s license) and Harold liked to go metal detecting in parks and remote areas, they liked to go out to eat, to go for drives, grow vegetables, Alma especially liked birds and had many different kinds, Cockatiels, Finches, Parakeets, Budgies, even a parrot. So many joyful family occasions, birthdays, anniversaries, Christmases were always richer because of Alma’s presence. Alma and her friends, Anna Mae, and Della, liked to go to yard sales and shop each grocery store for the weekly sale items. Anna Mae and Alma always said when they both pass they wanted to haunt the Memorial Park cemetery so if you feel a tap on the shoulder…?

Alma is survived and fondly remembered by her 5 sons, Larry of Davenport, Harold (Red) and wife Madge of Cameron, Wisconsin- Gary of Haysi, Virginia- Garold, wife Darla of King, North Carolina, and Robert wife Cindy of Muscatine. Eleven grandchildren, Twenty -seven great- grandchildren, 6 great-great grandchildren.

Preceded by her parents, her husband, siblings, three grandchildren, Ky, Gary Jr. Sheila Axtell.

Many thanks to Unity Point staff at Wilton and the Hospice staff for their care and support for Alma and her family during her final days.

To send flowers to Alma's family, please visit our floral store.