Mike Axthelm, Age 96, passed away joining his loving wife of 75 years. He will be dearly missed. Mike was born at home in Davis Creek Nebraska to Louis and Minnie (Albers) Axthelm. One of seven children, he attended grades 1-10 at the two-room Davis Creek School. Mike graduated from North Loop High School in 1940.

Mike met his future wife, Erma Covert, at a friend's party. They married in 1941 in Ord, Nebraska at her parent's home. They moved to Madison, Wisconsin where Mike worked for Goodyear Tire and learned the process of vulcanizing tires.

Mike and Erma returned to Ord when Mike was up for the draft for World War II. Their children Beth, Lynn, Jim and Bill were born in Ord.

Mike worked for Soil Conservation and then started his own business of building terraces and dams on farms in Valley County. A short turn at farming ended when Mike was asked by the County Commissioners to fill the job as County Road Commissioner. After he suffered severe sunstroke, Mike and Erma moved to the cooler climate of Washington State. Here he worked first as a carpenter and then started Axthelm Roofing. Mike and Erma lived and farmed on Dike Road in Mount Vernon for 60 years.

Upon retirement, Mike and Erma traveled thru the United States, Canada and parts of Mexico. They wintered in Arizona and made many friends and enjoyed lots of card parties. Most of their travels were shared with Erma's brother and sister-in-law, Paul and Marie Covert. Their favorites were Niagara Falls, Statue of Liberty and helicopter rides in Hawaii and Alaska.

Mike was preceded in death by his wife of 75 years, Erma, and 5 of his siblings. Mike is survived by four children and their spouses Beth and Brent Weidemann of Anacortes, Lynn and Gabe Axthelm of Mount Vernon, Jim and April Axthelm of Mount Vernon and Bill and Jer Axthelm of Beaverton Oregon. Mike is also survived by his sister, Opal Hammer, of Hastings Nebraska, special family members A rden and Kay Negley of Mount Vernon, Gary Negley of Millcreek, Paula and Omar Keitges of Cape Horn, as well as many grandchildren, great grand-children and great, great- grandchildren.

Remembrance to Creekside and Hospice for their wonderful care of our dad in his final days. Memorials are suggested to Children's Hospital.

A Celebration of Life will be held at Hawthorne Funeral Home, Mount Vernon on June 29, 2017 at 3:00pm with a reception to follow.