Paul Axness

Paul Axness died on March 7th surrounded by his family. Born in 1940 to Reynold and LaVerne Axness in St. Paul, Minnesota, Paul met Sandra Lind in 1959. Though neither could recall the exact moment of their first meeting, Paul always maintained it was love at first sight for him. They married in 1962, sharing a devoted sixty-two-year partnership that served as an inspiration to all who knew them. He missed his beloved wife Sandy deeply during the two and a half years following her passing.

After graduating from the University of Minnesota in 1963, Paul taught middle school science for two years before entering Northwestern Lutheran Theological Seminary. Following his ordination and an internship in Seattle, his first call brought his family to Great Falls, Montana. A brief period at Suomi College in Hancock, Michigan ended in 1976, after which he served as college pastor at Grandview College. Though he enjoyed that chapter of his career, he returned to parish ministry in the early 1990s at Luther Memorial Church in Des Moines. He concluded his professional life as an interim minister, serving approximately a dozen congregations across Iowa. In retirement, he volunteered at Iowa Lutheran Hospital.

Paul is survived by his daughter Beth, his son Eric-Paul, Eric-Paul’s ex-wife Deanna, and Eric-Paul’s fiancée Sara, as well as his grandchildren Ingrid, Vivian, Gretchen, and Fina, and Silas and Elin, children of Sara.