Obituary Axel Pollex

The staff of the Thuringian Open-Air Museum Hohenfelden, the members of the Friends’ Association of the Thuringian Open-Air Museum Hohenfelden e.V., and the Brewing and Cultural Association of the Thuringian Open-Air Museum Hohenfelden e.V. mourn the passing of Axel Pollex.
He passed away on November 3, 2025, in Tiefengruben at the age of 78.

For more than a quarter of a century, Axel Pollex was a defining figure for the Thuringian Open-Air Museum and both associations. As a dedicated supporter and long-standing chairman of the Brewing Association and the Friends’ Association, he played a key role in the development and preservation of the museum.

In 2001, together with fellow enthusiasts, he founded the Brewing Association with the goal of bringing the museum’s historic brewhouse back into operation and making it come alive for visitors. He chaired the association until 2012, when he stepped down but continued to support it as a sustaining member.

In 2008, Axel Pollex was one of the initiators of the founding of the Friends’ Association of the Thuringian Open-Air Museum, which he chaired until the end of 2016. During this time, he carried out major projects for the benefit of the museum, including the restoration and relocation of Thuringia’s oldest post mill, which was successfully moved from Großmehlra between 2009 and 2011.
Even after leaving his leadership positions, Axel Pollex remained closely connected to the museum and its associations, continuing to contribute actively to numerous projects and events.

“Axel Pollex left a lasting mark on the Thuringian Open-Air Museum with his tireless passion and exceptional commitment,” said Franziska Zschäck, Director of the Thuringian Open-Air Museum. “His passing leaves a great void, but his legacy and the projects he initiated will always be remembered.”

The members of both associations and the museum staff will remember Axel Pollex with gratitude and in quiet mourning. His work and his vision for the museum will continue to live on.