Axel Forrest Short passed away in Bozeman on Thursday, March 2, 2017. This happened two days shy of his 28th birthday due to complications from chronic kidney disease.
Funeral services for Axel Short were held on March 23, 2017 at Pilgrim Congressional United Church in Bozeman, Mont.
Axel was born March 4, 1988, at Livingston Memorial Hospial, joining two older brothers.
Axel grew up as a strong-willed kid and always maintained his 100 mph cruising speed. In fact, he was so fast that at 4 years old he won the NASTAR downhill ski race Montana state title. As Axel grew older her continued to excel on the ski hill and enjoyed participating in numerous outdoor activities, always trying to outdo his older brothers. He loved his many animals, most recently his Golden Retriever dog, Toeby.
At age 13 he encountered the first major speed bump of his young life. While on a trip with his family and friends, rafting down the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon, he contracted salmonella blood poisoning and had to be airlifted out with is mother alongside.
Thus began a long battle to live an ordinary life while maintaining his health from chronic kidney failure. Axel never this small “distraction” to interfere with his quest for life. He went on to not only participate in varsity soccer, but was named by his teammates as the team captain his junior and senior years. At 6 foot 6 inches, he had a slide tackle that was known around the state.
Despite being in and out of the ER and constantly battling sickness, Axel graduated from Bozeman High School in 2007. After graduation, Axel worked at Cardinal Distributing for four years.
June 16, 2010, Natalie Lane, and ANGEL, longtime friend, two-time prom date and an honorary Short daughter and sister, blessed Axel with a new shot at a healthy life. On this day, Natalie donated her kidney to Axel and we all watched things turn for the better. He once again enjoyed living a hospital-free life, visiting his brothers at college, spending time in Costa Rica with friends, and pursued a future in the medical field at Montana State University.
In 2016, he went into kidney failure again and was back fighting every day to live a normal life. Axel lived and went through more in his short 27 years than most people will have to endure in a lifetime.
He is survived by his parents, John Short and Cindy Kolberg of Bozeman; his grandparents, Gertrude and Gordon Kolberg of Glendive; uncles, Greg Kolberg, Guy Kolberg and fiancè Vickie Crane, all of Glendive, Darren Kolberg of Three Forks; aunt Cheryl Kolberg and partner Maggie Copeland of Glendive; as well as numerous cousins around the state. He is also survived by his aunts, Margee Short of Fort Collins, Colo. and Nancy (Rob) Blazer of Stevenson, Wash. He is also survived by his comrades in arms, older brothers Michael and Ryan Short.
Axel Forrest Short... his name rings proud, but pales in comparison to the strength of his true character. Always remember, that while his life may have been determined by his kidney condition, he never allowed it to define HIM!
We will ache from the void left by this gentle giant.
Memorials in Axel’s name may be made to the Gift of Life Transplant House, 705 Second Street SW, Rochester, MN 55902, The Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter, PO Box 11390, Bozeman, MT 59219 or to the charity of one’s choice.