Margaret “Peg” Jane Axelson
Peg Axelson was born on July 26th 1934 in Omaha Nebraska. Peg was born on her mom’s birthday. The 2nd child of Hubert and Evelyn Russell. Along with her older brother Bob grew up in Omaha’s Holy Name Parish. “Little Peggy” was proud of the fact she could run faster than her big brother’s friends. Bob confirmed this. After graduating from Rose Hill Elementary she was off to Benson High School where she was a cheerleader, rifle team, and National Honor Society, newspaper and yearbook editor. She took those good grades with her to Omaha Duchesne of the Sacred Heart College where she majored in Education. She graduated from Duchesne in 1956 and started her first teaching job at Central Park as a 4th grade teacher.
On June 6th 1955, mom went to a dance at Cathedral where she met a Creighton student named Ken Axelson. I remember grandma commenting a man by the last name of Axelson had introduced her and Hubert approximately 30 years earlier in Hastings Nebraska. He was not related to dad as his parents were still in Sweden at the time. Grandma said with a chuckle such an unusual name what are the chances of that? Ken and Peg got married on December 27, 1958. They planned their wedding around Central Park’s Christmas break. Their honeymoon was a trip to Kansas City. A blizzard hit K.C. on New Year’s Eve that year, so the nice restaurant mom and dad had reservations at was closed when they got there. They drove back to the hotel where dinner that night was soda crackers and 7 Up mom had packed in her suitcase. In mom’s words in their wedding album, “I don’t care, I’m happy because I’m with Ken.”
The couple’s first home was a duplex apartment near 45th & Pinkney. Mom loved children and continued teaching full time. She enjoyed being an Aunt to her brother’s three young sons. She began praying to St. Gerard Majella, the Patron Saint of expectant mothers. Her prayers were answered in 1964. She and dad moved into a house at 9406 Meredith Avenue on Oct 31, 1964. Saint James a new parish held Mass in the basement of nearby Boyd School while the church and school were being built.
Mark (Gerard) was born on February 19, 1965. Dad often commented we had to find a place so your mom wouldn’t have to walk up and down the stairs with the diaper pail. Mom had a miscarriage later that year. Dad commented many years later that was the hardest thing we experienced as a married couple. Your mother cried for weeks over losing that child. A 2nd son Kevin was born on August 27, 1966. 3rd son Rick, was born May 21, 1968. Mom wanted a daughter. God blessed them with MaryAnne on January 30, 1974. Mom was all in at being a mom. She helped with homework, took us to Mass and the library during summer vacations in our grade school years. Mom took us to sports practice, music lessons, and dance recitals. At soccer games, she was the oldest but most supportive mom. She would follow the ball and my sister said she could hear her shouts of encouragement when Mom was on the other side of the field.
Mom became a grandma just 5 days after she lost her mom when Christopher was born on March 20, 2000. Catherine was her first granddaughter and Goddaughter was born on April 14, 2009 and baptized on Grandma’s 75th birthday. Cayla, her 2nd granddaughter and Goddaughter was born on July 7, 2011. She will receive her First Communion on March 29, 2020…grandma will be watching from above. She enjoyed going to their sporting events. Talking nightly to MaryAnne about how the grandkids were doing in school, sporting events, and work. She enjoyed the grandkids weekly visits on Fridays. No one left without a hug and a I love you.
Mom’s Catholic faith was very important and evangelizing was equally. She was a RCIA sponsor multiple times, lector, choir, and EME taking Communion to those shut in their homes and hospitals. She was an “Auxiliary” Legion of Mary. She volunteered as a teacher at vacation bible school. In the later years of her life, we’d say a “Hail Mary” when passing the houses of the deceased. At stop signs we prayed for the souls of those who quit going to church. When talking to complete strangers, she’d ask them if they were Catholic or would consider being Catholic. She would end phone calls and print “God Loves You” on envelopes of outgoing mail.
Mom was reunited on December 21, 2019 with her parents, brother, and is holding the baby she lost in 1965. Knowing this brings us great comfort.
Special Thanks to Roeder Mortuary for assistance with the planning and the kind nurses at Immanuel Hospital.
Visitation with family is Thursday 5-7 PM with Rosary to follow at 7 PM at Roeder Mortuary (2727 North 108th Street, Omaha NE.). Christian Burial Friday December 27th 10 AM at Saint James Catholic Church (4710 North 90th Street, Omaha NE.). Interment Calvary Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials are suggested to Saint James/Seton Catholic School and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
