Thomas J. "Tom" Axtell – Rochester

Thomas "Tom" Axtell of Rochester, MN, passed away peacefully November 9, 2025, at St. Mary's Hospital in Rochester.

Tom was born August 29, 1962, to James and Karen (Roith) Axtell in St. Paul, MN. Tom lived in St. Paul for the first five years of his life, then moved to Rochester, MN with his family. He resided in Rochester ever since. Tom graduated from John Marshall High School in 1980 and graduated from Rochester Vocational School in 1982.

Tom married the love of his life, Linda Thomas, on June 25, 1996, in Las Vegas, NV. The two lived in Rochester for the duration of their marriage.

Tom, an incredible mechanical mind, spent his entire career working as a mechanic at Westgate Service Center in Rochester. To the customers and fellow co-workers at Westgate, there wasn't a problem that Tom couldn't solve. His ability to fix just about any mechanical problem was consistent throughout his career. Tom recently retired from his position in August 2024.

In his free time, Tom loved spending time riding his motorcycle, learning new woodworking skills, tackling a complex puzzle, and building expansive Lego projects. Tom was an incredible baker and great cook, known especially for his delicious apple and pecan pies. Tom's pies will be incredibly missed by his family and friends, as they were a fan favorite.

Tom and Linda spent time traveling to Disney in Florida, Las Vegas, and to various Nascar races around the country. The two loved to spend time with their friends and family. Anyone who knew Tom and Linda, knew how much they loved to play with their beloved Rottweiler Kirby.

Tom is survived by his beloved wife, Linda; mother, Karen (Sid) Whitlock; brother, Mike (Sally) Axtell; uncle, Michael Roith; sister-in-law, Melody (Rick) Skappel; brother-in-law, Jim (Lissa) Thomas; nieces, Bri and Holly (Eve) Axtell, Melisa (Tony) and Heather Skappel; nephews, Donald (Jennifer) Skappel and John (Ryan) Skappel and several great nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his father, James Axtell; stepmother Janet Axtell; grandparents; mother-in-law; and favorite dog Kirby.