Roger E. Axmark

Roger Eldon Axmark, 98, of Park Rapids, Minnesota, passed away on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Crystal Brook Senior Living in Park Rapids, Minnesota. Roger Eldon Axmark was born on January 29, 1923, in Minneapolis, Minnesota to David Ephriam and Blenda Cecelia (Olson) Axmark. He was the oldest of four children, three boys and a girl. During the depression, the family moved to Chicago, Illinois looking for work and rented a house on Maple and Laramie Street owned by Al Capone. From there they moved to his maternal grandfather’s farm in Nye, Wisconsin. Roger’s elementary years were lived near Randall, Minnesota at Caldrum, on a farm near his paternal grandfather John Axmark. It was during these formative years that Roger’s life took a turn in a new direction. Prosperous times had ended, and the Great Depression was bearing down upon them. One of Roger’s classmates had been killed in an accident. Life seemed very uncertain, and Roger became concerned about his own spiritual destiny. At age 9, alone in his bedroom, Roger asked Jesus to forgive his sins and to save him. He turned control of his life over to the Lord and purposed to trust Him. His life would change. He found peace, joy, and hope that sustained him through difficult times yet to come. Roger graduated from Roosevelt High School in Minneapolis in 1941. In March of 1943, Roger was inducted into the military where he became a pilot in the Army Air Corp. serving in the Pacific Theatre. After receiving his wings, Roger was assigned to the 499th squadron flying B25 twin engine bombers called “the Bats-Outa- Hell”. Roger flew 32 combat missions and had 209 hours of combat flying time. Among the medals Roger received were the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with four bronze stars for his participation in the Pacific Theatre of Operations: and the Air Medal with one oak leaf cluster. This medal was awarded for single acts of heroism and meritorious achievement specific to aerial flight missions. After the war, Roger worked with his father-in-law in the appliance/locker plant business and was united in marriage to his childhood friend, Geraldine Frances Smith on October 25, 1947, at the River Lake Tabernacle in Minneapolis. To this union two children were born. In 1952 he was employed by Honeywell as an electronic technician. In 1955 Roger became a Honeywell research scientist, holding 3 patents on the ionization smoke detectors developed and used today. He enjoyed wood carving, gardening, hunting, fishing, travel, photography, and reading. Roger also bowled in the Honeywell bowling league. He played the violin, alto horn, guitar, and ukulele. He taught Sunday school and bible studies and was an active leader in the Gideons local chapter. Deeply loved, Roger’s passing will be mourned by his children: Michael (Barb) Axmark of Rockford, IL, Linda (Mark) Remiger of Park Rapids, MN; his grandchildren Jason (Blanca) Remiger, Jennifer (Nathan) Eda, Bethany Noll, and Scott Axmark; his great-grandchildren Thorn Mark Eldon Remiger, Ingrid Geraldine Remiger, Astrid Ava Remiger, Asha Eda, Isaiah Eda, Malaya Brown, and Leilana Brown; two siblings: Daniel (Dawn) Axmark of Owatonna, MN, and Vivian (Charles) Mayes of Livingston, TX. Roger was preceded in death by his wife Geraldine; his parents: David Ephriam and Blenda Cecelia (Olson) Axmark; and brother, Vernon Axmark. Link to watch service: https://vimeo.com/634599376