Dr. Glen Axelson

Dr. Glen Axelson

1975 - 2016

Dr. Glen Axelson died on Wednesday, April 27, at Methodist West Houston Hospital after a long illness.

He was born in Houston on May 20, 1975.

He is survived by his parents Kenneth and Barbara Axelson of Katy, Texas; his aunt Patricia Grover of Pinellas, Fla.; aunt and uncle Robert and Eileen Grover of Steamboat Springs, Colo.; aunt Margaret Grover of Denver, Colo; aunt Barbara Axelson of Kenosha, Wis.; aunt Cynthia Axelson of Kenosha, Wis.; his twelve cousins and their families; and his former wife Helen Axelson of Miami, Fla.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Clarence and Eleanor Axelson; grandparents, Robert and Ruth Grover; uncles, Charles Axelson, Gary Axelson, and Donald Grover; and aunt, Kathleen Grover Helm.

Glen was an avid scholar who loved the sciences. After earning his undergraduate and graduate degrees from TU Health Science Center in Houston, Glen went on to attend medical school at the Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine where he distinguished himself as a scholar. He spent his first year as a resident in general medicine, but discovered his calling was as a forensic pathologist. He completed four years of residency at Eastern Tennessee State University, followed by a post-doctoral fellowship year at the Miami-Dade Medical Examiner's office before becoming Assistant Medical Examiner at the Palm Beach County, Fla., Medical Examiner's Office. Glen spent more than a decade as a forensic pathologist and published several papers based on his work. Through his work, Glen spoke for those who were now voiceless, sought justice for those who had been hurt, and met with their families and loved ones at the worst time in their lives.

Glen had a love for language and spent a year of his undergraduate studies at St. Petersburg University in Russia, immersed in the language, history and culture of Russia. He returned to Eastern Europe several more times and had wonderful stories about the people he met and the places he visited. Glen always sought out new experiences. He became a certified scuba diver and loved diving in Florida, and even as far away as Belize. He was using this knowledge as the basis for his newest research on diving deaths, but passed on before he could complete his research. Glen also enjoyed flying, becoming a licensed private pilot and even learned how to pilot helicopters. Glen also loved dogs and had a rescue greyhound he brought back with him from Florida to his parents' home in Katy, where the dog will remain as a comfort to his grieving parents.

Glen's legacy was his work as a pathologist. With the more than 3,000 autopsies he performed, Glen worked not only with law enforcement, but with the bereaved families and loved ones of those who were now gone. He was a kind and gentle man and he brought those same qualities to the families he counseled to give them the answers and understanding they needed.

As his parents, Ken and Barb Axelson want to thank the doctors, nurses, chaplains and all the staff at Methodist West Houston for their compassion, skill, kindness and support through this difficult time. Glen is being taken back to Wisconsin where there is a family service and he can be with the rest of his father's family.