Gleva J. Axelson, age 70, of Alta, Iowa, died on Monday, March 23, 2015, at the Buena Vista Regional Medical Center in Storm Lake.

Funeral services will be held Friday, March 27, 2015 at 10:00 a.m. at the Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. Burial will follow in the Buena Vista Memorial Park Cemetery in Storm Lake. Visitation will take place Thursday, March 26, 2015 from 6-8:00 p.m. at the Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta. The Sliefert Funeral Home in Storm Lake is in charge of the arrangements.

Gleva Jean Sadler, the daughter of Fred and Agnes (Barnard) Sadler, was born in Cherokee, Iowa on September 23, 1944. She began her education at the Washta Community School and continued her education in Alta where she was a 1962 graduate of the Alta Community High School.

Gleva was united in marriage to Arne Edwin Axelson on July 19, 1962, at the Alta United Methodist Church and this marriage was blessed with two children: Nancy and Alan.

With the exception of the time that Arne was in Basic Training, Arne and Gleva have made their home in the Alta community. Gleva was privileged to have served as the church secretary for the Alta United Methodist Church for 26 years, a position she thoroughly enjoyed. Gleva had also been employed at the Denise Sassman Insurance Agency. She took an active interest in the lives of her children and grandchildren and enthusiastically followed all of their activities.

Special interests of Gleva’s included reading, watching all sports, and crocheting. Gleva will be remembered as a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother and friend. Gleva was a member of the Summit Evangelical Free Church in Alta, 1:10 Journey Group, and the Red Hat Society.

Gleva’s life is honored and celebrated by her family which include her husband of 52 ½ years, Arne, of Alta, Iowa; daughter, Nancy (Rick) Kisling of Martensdale, Iowa and their children: Kyle, Caleb, Sarah and Joel; son, Alan (Michelle) Axelson of Rigby, Idaho and their children: Baylee and Kieffer Axelson of Rigby, Idaho; Brandon Pedersen of Ida Grove, Iowa; Brock (Yvonne) Pedersen of McAllen, Texas; two great granddaughters: Everleigh and Imogen; brother, Gordon (Barbara) Sadler of Vallecito, California; sister-in-law, Bonnie Axelson of Jamestown, Rhode Island; an “adopted granddaughter”, Katie (Chris) Howard of Lawton, Iowa; other extended family and many friends.

She was preceded in death by her parents; brother and sister-in-law, Gayland (Mary) Sadler; and brother-in-law, Roy Axelson.

May the Lord be honored through the life and memory of Gleva Jean Axelson.