Garnet Mae Axland
April 15, 1923 — May 20, 2016
Garnet Mae Axland was born on her family farm in Greeley Township near Manilla, Iowa to Reinhard and Lillie (Larson) Nordby. She was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Irwin where she remained a lifelong member. She attended Greeley country school across the road from her house and would have to carry water for the school to use.
Garnet lived with the Calvin family and worked in their house, later working in their store in Manilla for several years. On April 18, 1943, she was united in marriage to Merrill Axland at St. Paul’s. They became parents to three daughters: Myrna, Sheryl, and Joy. They lived on Merrill’s home place for fifty-four years. After her husband’s death in 1987, Garnet moved to Irwin.
She was active in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, holding several offices, including treasurer for many years, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, and belonging to the women’s circle, as well as the Neighborhood Club, a craft club and card clubs. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, working on ceramics, and playing cards. Garnet loved to entertain and have her family over to her home. Holidays were always a special time with her family gathered together.
Garnet was a resident of Manilla Manor when she died on Friday, May 20, 2016 at the age of ninety-three years, one month, and five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Merrill, brothers Milo, Marvin, and Vernon Nordby, and sisters Norma Mitten and Igleedtis Nordby.
She is survived by her daughters: Myrna and her husband Lynn Gaskill of Manilla, Iowa, Sheryl and her husband Dan Holloway of Irwin, Iowa, and Joy and her husband Joe Daeges also of Irwin; nine grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister Virginia “Kay” and her husband Richard Madsen of Lincoln, Nebraska; brother-in-law Ja Vain Mitten of Hamilton, Missouri; sister-in-law Delores Nordby of Elk Horn, Iowa; other family members and friends.
Garnet lived with the Calvin family and worked in their house, later working in their store in Manilla for several years. On April 18, 1943, she was united in marriage to Merrill Axland at St. Paul’s. They became parents to three daughters: Myrna, Sheryl, and Joy. They lived on Merrill’s home place for fifty-four years. After her husband’s death in 1987, Garnet moved to Irwin.
She was active in St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, holding several offices, including treasurer for many years, teaching Sunday School and Bible School, and belonging to the women’s circle, as well as the Neighborhood Club, a craft club and card clubs. She enjoyed knitting, crocheting, sewing, working on ceramics, and playing cards. Garnet loved to entertain and have her family over to her home. Holidays were always a special time with her family gathered together.
Garnet was a resident of Manilla Manor when she died on Friday, May 20, 2016 at the age of ninety-three years, one month, and five days. She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Merrill, brothers Milo, Marvin, and Vernon Nordby, and sisters Norma Mitten and Igleedtis Nordby.
She is survived by her daughters: Myrna and her husband Lynn Gaskill of Manilla, Iowa, Sheryl and her husband Dan Holloway of Irwin, Iowa, and Joy and her husband Joe Daeges also of Irwin; nine grandchildren; twenty great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; sister Virginia “Kay” and her husband Richard Madsen of Lincoln, Nebraska; brother-in-law Ja Vain Mitten of Hamilton, Missouri; sister-in-law Delores Nordby of Elk Horn, Iowa; other family members and friends.
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