Thomas Akselsen

Thomas Akselsen

January 20, 1931 – October 29, 2026

Thomas Akselsen, born January 20, 1931, in Brooklyn, New York, passed away peacefully in his sleep on October 29, 2026, with his son by his side. He lived a long and fulfilling life filled with love, laughter, adventure, and devotion to his family.

Thomas proudly served in the United States Army during the Korean War. Following his military service, he built a distinguished career with IBM, dedicating 35 years to the company before retiring as an executive in 1989. While he took great pride in his career accomplishments, and Norwegian heritage, his greatest achievement and deepest joy were always his family.

Thomas shared 74 wonderful years of marriage with his beloved wife, Evelyn. Together, they built a life filled with love, laughter, and cherished memories. He loved traveling with his bride, dancing with her, and enjoying life’s adventures by her side. Their remarkable marriage was a testament to a lifetime of love, companionship, and commitment.

Thomas is survived by his beloved wife of 74 years, Evelyn; his three children, Karen Hipes (John) ; Janet Harrod (Phillip); and Thomas Akselsen (Cheri); his nine grandchildren, Robert Spector (Silvana), Michelle Germann (Kelly), Kaelin Stroschein (Jordan), Zachary Hipes, Graham Powell (Katie), Allison Parker (Lee), Yanci Akselsen, Evelyn Akselsen, and Katie Coppola; and his nine great-grandchildren, Hailey, Landon, Riley, Levi, Cody, Harper, Piper, Owen, and his namesake Thomas Allen. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.

Family was the center of Thomas’s world. He especially loved attending his grandchildren’s sporting events, cheering them on from the sidelines, and supporting them in whatever ways he could. He took great pride in their accomplishments and treasured every opportunity to be part of their lives. His love for his family was his greatest joy and will remain an enduring part of his legacy.

Thomas was known for his outgoing personality, quick wit, and unmistakable sense of humor. He was always ready with a joke, often an inappropriate one, and delighted in making people laugh. His humor, lively spirit, and ability to bring laughter into a room made him unforgettable to those who knew him. He never missed an opportunity to share a laugh or leave someone shaking their head at his latest punchline.

An avid golfer, Thomas enjoyed time on the golf course and loved traveling to new places. He was also a devoted Atlanta Braves fan who enjoyed cheering on his team. Whether golfing, traveling, dancing with Evelyn, or watching his grandchildren compete, Thomas knew how to enjoy life and make the most of the time spent with those he loved.

Thomas will be remembered as a loving husband, devoted father, proud grandfather and great-grandfather, brother, son, uncle, patriot, accomplished businessman, and a man who brought laughter and joy wherever he went. Above all, he will be remembered for his unwavering love for his family, which was the greatest legacy he leaves behind.

Though he will be deeply missed, his family will carry forward his humor, his stories, his love of life, and the countless memories they shared with him. His was a life well lived, full of love, laughter, adventure, and 74 years of cherished memories with his beloved bride.

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Shriners Children’s Hospital at:
Donate.shrinerschildrens.org