Loretta K. Axtell

Longtime Alaskan and Soldotna resident Loretta K. Axtell, 51, died Sept. 8, 2012, at Central Peninsula Hospital in Soldotna from a brain aneurysm.

A celebration of her life is at 3 p.m., Sept. 16 at Kenai Masonic Lodge No. 11 in Soldotna.

Loretta was born July 18, 1961, in Crescent City, Calif. She moved to Alaska in 1970 and graduated from Kenai High School in 1978.

Loretta worked as manager of Hooks and Ladders Charities in Soldotna for three and a half years. She moved to Wasilla in 1989 and worked at Captain Cook Hotel, Hilton Hotel as food and beverage purchaser from 1985-89, in admissions in the Palmer hospital and as a substitute teacher at Meadow Lakes Elementary School. She moved to Soldotna in 2009.

July 28, 1990, she married Ronald James Axtell in Soldotna. They had two beautiful daughters.

Loretta was a member of Grace Lutheran Church. She also worked with Rainbow Girls, Mat Valley Soccer and Basketball Association and Mat Valley Youth Bowling Association.

“Our mom was an amazing person, the world’s greatest mother, too,” her family wrote. “When you were around her, you couldn’t help but always laugh and smile. It was her gift. She has a heart of gold and the soul of an angel. She was always around to make things better and was by our side to help fight all our battles. If you ever could have someone by your side, she would be your choice. She was a super stubborn person. Loretta was, and is, the greatest most amazing woman we ever met. She is and will always be our hero. She also touched the lives of so many people and ‘adopted’ so many children. She will be greatly missed by her friends and family. Be at peace.”

Preceding her in death was her brother, Mark E. Johnson; and grandparents, Doyle and Kate Jowers.

Surviving were her daughters, Rebecca Kate Axtell and Emily Grace Axtell, both of Soldotna; parents, V.J. and Patricia Nikolas of Soldotna; brother, David Johnson and wife Diane of Sherwood, Ore.; stepbrother, Charles Nikolas of Soldotna; stepsister, Kathleen Nikolas-Ehrhardt of Kenai; aunts, Doylene DeVer and Kathleen Hofkins of Star, Idaho; uncle, Doyle M Jowers, of Star, Idaho; and several nieces and nephews.

Arrangements were by Peninsula Memorial Chapel in Kenai.