William H. Traxel

Boonville- William “Bill” Traxel, 53, of State Rt. 46, Boonville, passed away in Boonville, on Tuesday, May 9, 2023, after a short battle with cancer.

Bill was born in Rome, NY, on August 22, 1969, and was adopted by Charles Freeman Traxel and Barbara Traxel nee Ellers. He grew up in Boonville, where he graduated from Adirondack High School, with The Class of 1988. Thereafter he furthered his education studying Natural Resources Conservation at Morrisville College.

One of Bill’s passions was a love of history. From his early teens he spent much of his time participating in historical reenactments of Central New York Revolutionary War battles and also traveling to Canada for reenactments of The War of 1812, battles and to Gettysburg, PA for reenactments of the Civil War, Battle of Gettysburg. He especially enjoyed his time of employment as a historical interpreter, at Fort Stanwix in Rome.

In 1988, Bill met Karla Sandness at a “Living History Fair,” in Oneida, NY. They married at Dibble’s Inn, Vernon, on September 29, 1990. Afterwards the couple resided in Vernon and Verona for several years. Three children were born out of this marriage; Kaitlyn Traxel, Rhiannon Traxel and Glenn Traxel. In 2022, Bill and Karla celebrated 32 years of marriage.

In 2002 Bill was able to realize his longtime dream of returning to Boonville and purchasing a farm to raise animals on. At the time his wife thought the idea sounded awful. Nevertheless, Bill and Karla purchased the Traxel Farm on Rt. 46, just south of Boonville, a farm which was purchased by Bill’s Traxel ancestors in 1830 and had remained in the Traxel family since then. Eventually Karla was converted to Bill’s agricultural plan and together they raised chickens, ducks, pigs, goats, dogs and a peacock. They both enjoyed their animals and created their own style of family get-togethers called “Goat Fest.” Bill will be fondly remembered as a person who loved and had a kind heart towards animals. He kept treats in his car, so that he could give them to dogs which he met on his travels.

For many years Bill possessed a great interest in the annual Adirondack High School Broadway Musical productions and while in high school, he greatly enjoyed each musical production, particularly The Mikado and Anything Goes. For many years he assisted with sets construction for the musicals and chaperoned the boys dressing room. Bill enjoyed a long time family legacy of his family participating in the musical productions at Adirondack High School; his father, Charlie and sister Judy and Bill’s children all participated in the pit band, acted in and supported the musicals from 1980 through 2020.

Bill was a member of Boonville-Uriel Masonic Lodge, # 165.

Anyone who knew Bill knew that his family was the most important aspect of life to him. He was a very loving husband, father, son and brother. Bill was predeceased by his father, Charlie Traxel, and his birth mother Barbara Landahl. In addition to his wife, Karla, Bill is survived by children, Kaitlyn Traxel, Rhiannon Traxel, her husband, Jack LaForest and his son, Glenn Traxel, all of Boonville; his mother, Barbara Traxel, Boonville and two sisters, Judy Traxel Slye, (Jeff) and Cynthia Landahl, Boardman, OH.

Calling hours are Wednesday, May 17, 2023, from 4:00-7:00 P.M. at Trainor Funeral Home, Inc. 143 Schuyler St. Boonville. Relatives and friends are invited to attend a Memorial Service 12 Noon on Saturday, May 20, at Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses, 430 North Willow St. Oneida, NY 13421. A Zoom link will be available. Please reach out to Karla if you would like access to the link. A private interment at the convenience of his family will be in Boonville Cemetery.