John A. Mitchell - 99

4/11/1916 - 9/2/2015 
Tampico, IL

 John A. Mitchell of Rock Falls, formerly of Tampico, became "God's Carpenter" on September 2, 2015 at the age of 99.

John A. Mitchell was born April 11, 1916 in Hooper, Nebraska, the second oldest of eight children born to Frank & Cora Agnes (Renninger) Mitchell.  He married Maxine Rasmussen in 1938; they had three children: Jack, Ronald, and Connie. In 1939 John had to leave his family in Nebraska to seek work and hitch-hiked his way to Illinois.  Upon finding work at the Stauffer Dairy Farm, south of Rock Falls, he sent for his family.  In 1941 John began working at Northwestern Steel & Wire in the maintenance department of the west plant.  He was often known as “P.W.’s boy," as he was often called in to fix things others could not.  He retired in 1978 after 37 years. In 1973, John married Mildred (Renner) Smith and became a step-father to son, Reiley Smith.  John spent the years after retiring from NWSW working as "Mr. Fix It” around Tampico and at the Whiteside County Senior Center. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of Tampico and served as a trustee.  A member of the Tampico Lions Club, John was celebrated in 2008 for being the oldest member in the district. In 2009, he was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Tampico Days parade. The greatest joy of his life were his seventeen grandchildren, nineteen great-grandchildren, and especially his six great-great-grandchildren. He had been looking forward to the 2016 birth of his seventh great-great-grandchild. There were also countless neighbors and friends who called him "Grandpa" as well. 

Please join five generations of John Mitchell’s family in celebrating his remarkable life.

Visitation will be 10:00am at First United Methodist Church of Tampico, with a service following at 11:00am on Saturday with the Rev. Leanne Keate, pastor officiating. Burial will be in Tampico Memorial Cemetery.  Garland Funeral Home in Tampico are handling arrangements.  Condolences may be sent to: www.garlandfuneralhome.com.

Visitation:

Saturday Sept. 5, 2015 10-11 a.m. First United Methodist Church of Tampico

Service:

Saturday Sept. 5, 2015 11 a.m. First United Methodist Church of Tampico