UPDATE: Missing Elkhart man found safe

UPDATE: The Polk County Sheriff’s Office said Axtell has been found safe and is being reunited with his family.

POLK COUNTY, Iowa — The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is requesting the public’s help in locating a missing elderly man.

Dennis Lee Axtell, 79, was last seen near his home in the 800 block of North Grant Avenue in Elkhart at around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. According to the sheriff’s office, Axtell does take walks around Elkhart, but he has Alzheimer’s and can become confused.

Axtell is about 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighs about 140 lbs., and has gray hair. He was last seen wearing a wide-brim sun hat, glasses, and dark blue pants.

Anyone with information about Axtell’s whereabouts is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (515)286-3333 or their local law enforcement agency.

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