Edward Joseph Axmann

Edward Joseph Axmann

Edward Joseph Axmann, age 80, of Kearney, formerly of Ravenna, passed away on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at Mt. Carmel Home Keens Memorial in Kearney. Funeral services will be on Monday, July 8, 2024 at 11:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Pleasanton. Pastor Dean Hanson will officiate and burial will be later. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 7, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. at Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services in Kearney. Memorials are suggested to the Pleasanton Volunteer Fire Department or Grace Lutheran Church. Please visit www.hlmkfuneral.com to leave a tribute or message of condolence. Horner Lieske McBride & Kuhl Funeral and Cremation Services of Kearney is in charge of arrangements.

Ed was born on May 30, 1944, in Kearney, NE to Joseph and Gladys (Lammers) Axmann. He grew up on the family farm in Sweetwater, NE. He attended Ravenna High School and graduated with the class of 1961. He married Donna Keilig on September 24, 1962, in Ravenna, NE. They had two children, Diane and Jared.

Ed was a lifelong farmer. Other businesses he had included dirt moving and trucking. He and Donna operated a custom harvesting business for decades. His children and grandchildren were involved in his ventures throughout the years. He always had a dog by his side or in his pickup bed. Bear, Sylvie, and Chip were a few of his faithful companions.

Ed's 3 grandchildren were very important to him. He said if he had known how great grandchildren were he would have had them first. He would often sneak candy to them because he knew they wouldn't get any at home. He loved to spend time with them and take them along to the farm. He was so happy to have a great granddaughter born in 2022. Her visits brought him great joy.

He enjoyed tractor pulling with the Nebraska Bush Pullers. In later years, Ed restored the first tractor he ever bought, a John Deere 3010, which he drove in many parades and tractor drives across Nebraska and South Dakota. He and Donna were active members of the Platte Valley Antique Machinery Association and the Central Nebraska Antique Tractor & Equipment Club.

Surviving relatives include his daughter, Diane Axmann and John Obermiller of Loup City, NE; son, Jared (Mona) Axmann of Kearney; grandchildren, Laura (Joey) Pogge of Omaha, Rebecca (Justin) Weir of Kearney, and Sam Axmann of Kearney; great granddaughter, Emersyn Weir of Kearney; sisters, Elaine Dobish and Shirley Tesmer of Kearney, brothers-in-law, Larry (Carolyn) Keilig of Hastings and Lane Nansel of Kearney.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Donna; sister-in-law Karen Nansel; brothers-in-law George Dobish and Jerry Tesmer and 2 great grandchildren.