Gordon Traxel

Ava- Gordon Traxel, 96, of Traxel Road, a native and life resident of the Town of Ava, passed away on Sunday, January 18, 2015, at Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Boonville. He was born on December 18, 1918, on the Traxel Farm, a son of Daniel and Lucy Wood Traxel. He graduated from West Leyden High School with the Class of 1936. For many years he operated the Traxel Family Farm until he retired from farming in 1969. After that he was employed as a custodian and bus driver at the Adirondack Elementary School in West Leyden, and as a truck driver at Bailey's Feed Mill, of Boonville, retiring in 1984. On June 12, 1946, Gordon was united in marriage with Margaret Kappler at the Clinton United Methodist Church; this was a blessed union that lasted for over sixty eight years. Gordon served on several local town and school positions, including the Ava Town Board, Ava Town Tax Collector, the West Leyden Central School Board of Education, and the planning board for the new location and construction of the Adirondack Central High School, in Boonville, in the late 1960's. For many years Mr. Traxel also served as superintendent of the Ava Cemetery. During the late 1930's and early 1940's Gordon enjoyed playing drums in a local band; and after getting his private pilot's license, he greatly enjoyed flying airplanes with his flying buddies. Later in life, he enjoyed operating his 16 foot boat on several area lakes and on the Barge Canal. In addition to his wife, Margaret, Gordon is survived by three sons and two daughters in law: Gary Traxel, Lynn and Sheila Traxel, all of Ava, and Bruce and Gayle Traxel, of Prospect; one daughter and son-in-law, Donna and David Byrne, of Lee. Also surviving are seven grandchildren and many many great grandchildren. Gordon's family would like to thank the staff at Sunset Nursing and Rehabilitation Center, Boonville, for their excellent care they gave to Gordon and to the ambulance personnel of the West Leyden Fire Department. In keeping with this wishes his Funeral Services will be private at the Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville and there will be no calling hours. Interment will be in the spring at Ava Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to Sunset Nursing & Rehabilitation Center Resident Activities Fund 232 Academy St. Boonville, NY 13309, or to the West Leyden Fire Department.