MEDFORD, Ore. — The family of a decorated World War II veteran is hoping people will honor his life with donations to some of his favorite charities.
Alan Axtell passed away this month at the age of 101.
Alan Axtell and his son, Tom: September 2018
NBC5 News introduced you to “Al” during our exclusive coverage of The Southern Oregon Honor Flight in the fall of 2018. Axtell was the oldest veteran on the trip.
He was a combat pilot during WWII for the U.S. Air Force. He flew missions in Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia and Austria, as well as Germany.
After the war, he met his wife Betty, and they enjoyed nearly 6 decades together and had 4 kids.
Al and Betty retired in Medford.
His family has asked in lieu of flowers, that donations are made to Court-Appointed Special Advocates or CASA and the Lion’s Eye Bank.
You can read more about Axtell’s life HERE.
Executive Producer Kristin Hosfelt anchors NBC5 News weeknights at 5 and 6. Originally from the Bay Area, Kristin earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Broadcast Journalism from San Jose State University.
She came to KOBI-TV/NBC5 from Bangor, Maine where she was the evening news anchor. Kristin has won multiple journalism awards including Best Feature Reporting in the State of Maine. In 2017, her investigation on lead pipes in Medford’s water system was named Best News Series by the Oregon Association of Broadcasters.
When Kristin is not sharing the news, she’s traveling, hunting down the best burrito, or buried in a Jodi Picoult novel. She’s also a Green Bay Packers shareholder; if you see her out and about she’d be happy to tell you the story of how a California girl became a cheesehead.
