Donald Eugene Mitchell

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Donald Eugene Mitchell was born on August 16, 1948 to Harold and Margaret (Miller) Mitchell in Luverne, Minnesota. He was baptized on December, 2, 1951 at the Luverne United Methodist Church. The family moved their one-room house to Hardwick, Minnesota. Don enjoyed fishing and hunting with his brother and other friends in Hardwick. Memories he talked about were the winters where the snow was as high as the house. He had a pet duck called Daffy that would follow him downtown. When it was hot in the summers, he took his roll-a-way bed and slept under the stars. Don would often ride his bike to the Blue Mound State Park and back. He liked to catch the train and ride to Luverne and back. At age 13 he worked for Elvin Rasehke stocking shelves. He also worked at the bowling alley setting pins. Later he worked for various area farmers and that is how he met his future wife, Marvis Hamann. Don graduated from Luverne High School in 1967 and then attended Pipestone Vocational School in Pipestone, Minnesota. After graduation he worked for Virgil Ahrendt Construction and then Duane Mulder for a short time. On December 29, 1969, he joined the Minnesota National Guard and was honorably discharged on December 21, 1975. On October 2, 1971, Don was united in marriage to Marvis Hamann at St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. The couple was blessed with two sons. In 1983, Don began working as a custodian for the Luverne Public Schools. He enjoyed his work with the schools and kids. In 2013, he retired from full-time work, but remained a custodian in a part-time capacity until spring 2020, when he retired completely due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In July, 2020, Don was diagnosed with Kidney cancer. On Tuesday, February 16, 2021, Don died peacefully at the Sanford Luverne Hospice Cottage at the age of 72 years and six months.

Don attended St. John Lutheran Church in Luverne. In 2015, he and Marvis transferred their membership to Zion Lutheran Church in Hardwick, Minnesota. Don enjoyed model trains and the Christmas village he put up every year. It was a large village display and the Rock County Star Herald newspaper featured Don and his village collection twice. He loved cars and took pride in his 1970 Chevelle. According to his children, Don was a hero. He will be missed for being a very kind man with few words.

Don is lovingly survived by his wife of 49 years, Marvis; two sons, Jon Mitchell of Luverne and his daughter, Samara Mitchell, and Jeff (Sarah) Mitchell of Fargo, North Dakota; brother, Curt Mitchell; brother-in-law, Lowell (Paula) Hamann; one nephew; and many nieces. He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold and Margaret Mitchell; sister, Patricia Latten; and nephew, Richard.