Neil Traxel

Neil Traxel of Port Washington died peacefully on Feb. 19, 2024, at the age of 76.

He was born on April 12, 1947, to parents William and Florence (nee Wedig) at St. Alphonsus Hospital in Port Washington.

Neil graduated from Grafton High School in 1965. He also earned a diploma in data processing from Bryant and Stratton College.

Neil proudly served in the U.S. Navy on the USS DeSoto County as a storekeeper.  He was a proud recipient of an Honor Flight trip in 2022.

For more than 40 years, Neil worked at Circle B Recreation Center in Cedarburg.  He helped multiple generations of children learn to bowl and hosted hundreds of birthday parties.

A social and gregarious person, he brought a smile to everyone he met.

Neil was a man of great faith, having been raised in the faith at Trinity Lutheran Church in Cedarburg and transitioning to being a pillar of faith and service at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Port Washington.

A man with vast connections, he was active not only in many areas of his church and work but also in the community through Friendship Club, Relay for Life, his class reunion committee, Thrivent and Rose-Harms American Legion Post 355 in Grafton, to name a few.

Neil’s purest pride and joy was his children and grandchildren. With members of his birth family all having passed away at young ages, Neil felt beyond blessed to live to this ripe old age and spend as much time as possible with his children and grandchildren. Neil instilled his spirit upon his children Jason Traxel and Nicole Beier (Jeff Hoffman) and his grandchildren Joel and Morgan Beier and Brian and Olivia Traxel.

He is further survived by the Borchardt and Weichmann families, who truly became his family. Additionally, he is survived by his sister-in-law Janet, nieces Tammy Setzke and Jennifer Schwab and many cousins and countless friends, including Navy friend Roland Hein.

A funeral service will be held on Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. at Christ the King Lutheran Church, 420 W. Whitefish Rd., Port Washington, WI 53074. Family will receive visitors from noon until the service.  Military honors will immediately follow.

Memorials to the Christ the King Memorial Fund are encouraged.

Eernisse Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

Online condolences may be left at www.eernissefuneralhome.com.