Donnell Mitchell

"Donnell Mitchell" SPREAD EAGLE, Wis. - Donnell R. "Mitch" Mitchell, of Spread Eagle, died, peacefully in the arms of family in his winter home in Fort Myers, Fla., Dec. 3, 2003, after a long battle with cancer. He was 79. Born July 20, 1924, in Iron Mountain to Fredrick John and Ruth Johnson Mitchell, he graduated from Iron Mountain High School in 1942, then served as a ship's cook, 2nd class in the U.S. Navy in the Pacific Theater during World War II. After the war, he married Elizabeth Ebel and they settled in Kingsford, where he served on the city council from 1953 to 1956, and as mayor in 1956. Later, he served on the Dickinson County Board of Supervisors. Mitch owned and operated the Iron Mountain Credit Bureau for more than 40 years, retiring in 1997. He was an active member of Associated Credit Bureaus. He was a longtime member of the American Legion, the Elks, 6-7-8 and the Chippewa Club (serving as president in 1975). Mitchell was the current president and served for many years as treasurer of the Menominee Range Historical Foundation, which he founded in 1969 with Al and Robert Hoyle. He devoted years of personal effort to renovating the current museum and building its collection. He also chaired the Iron Mountain Centennial Committee and spearheaded the effort to preserve Iron Mountain's Cornish Pump and have it placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. Mitch was an avid hunter, fisherman, and golfer. He was a founding and longtime member of Sundog Hunting Lodge and made many big-game trips to Canada, Alaska, and the Rocky Mountains. Mitch belonged to the Pine Grove Country Club, and, in recent years, played golf almost daily in Florida during the winter and around the U.P. in the summers. In 1993, his foursome (along with Ralph Carlson, Guido Jafolla, and Tim Endelman) won the Wisconsin Regionals of the Oldsmobile Scramble, qualifying to play in the Net Division National Championship in Orlando, Fla. He was proud of his three holes-in-one, the most recent in 2001. A Green Bay Packers season ticket holder since 1959, Mitch spent many Sundays at Lambeau Field and attended the first two Super Bowls to cheer the Packers to victories. He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Elizabeth; six children, Maureen Piper of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Jeffrey (Christina) of Lindenhurst, Ill., Frederick of Iron Mountain, Mary (Tim) Endelman of Iron Mountain, Michael of London, England and Patricia (Jeff) Lemke of Cary, Ill.; 10 grandchildren; a brother, William of Saginaw; and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by a sister, Geraldine. Friends may call from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 9, at the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home. Memorial services will be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home. Fr. Daniel Zaloga will officiate. Pallbearers will be Dr. Ralph Carlson, James Verrette, Robert Rigoni, Dr. Newton McCollough III, Brian Lucas, Zorba, Frederick Mitchell III, and Jordan Mitchell. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made in his name to the Menominee Range Historical Foundation. Condolences may be expressed to the family of Donnell Mitchell online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com. The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the funeral arrangements.

Donnell Mitchell

December 3, 2003