Douglas Mitchell

DOUGLAS MITCHELL was born to Edward and Eloise (Peterson) Mitchell on May 8, 1952 in Pipestone, Minnesota where he was raised. As a young child, he moved with his family to Trosky, Minnesota. He attended school in Pipestone. After his graduation from Pipestone High School in 1970, he moved to the Twin Cities and worked at Boise-Cascade. In 1973, he began working at Bayliner Marine in Pipestone. On October 2, 1976, he was united in marriage to Geraldine Morrison at the United Church of Christ in Armour, South Dakota. Following their marriage, they lived in Trosky. In 1984, Doug built a new home for them in Trosky. When the Bayliner plant closed in 2009, Doug became employed at Titan Machinery in Pipestone. On Wednesday, March 14, 2012, he died unexpectedly at his home in Trosky from cardiac arrest at the age of 59 years, ten months and six days.

Doug was the sexton for the Trosky Cemetery where he mowed and maintained the grounds for the past 19 years. He enjoyed carpentry and, besides building their home in Trosky, he built their cabin on the Missouri River near Pickstown, South Dakota. Over an eight-year period, he and Gerri served as foster parents, fostering over 18 children. In his younger years, he enjoyed racing cars and he won many trophies. He enjoyed restoring a 1965 Chevelle station wagon. He was an avid fisherman and hunter. He especially liked hanging out with his family and friends drinking a beer. He even learned to brew his own beer this past year. He loved driving his car and his truck and never thought twice about getting in his vehicle and driving for hours to visit family or friends. He loved vacationing. Throughout his life, his goal was always to give his all -- whether running a 5K race, laboring side-by-side with his fellow workers, or just fishing. No matter what the occasion, he was always in high gear.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Gerri Mitchell of Trosky, Minnesota; two sons, Rob Mitchell of St. Louis, Missouri, and Greg Mitchell and his wife Ashley of Blairstown, Iowa; five brothers, James Mitchell and his wife Rose of Pensacola, Florida, Gordon Mitchell and his wife Lou of Salinas, California, Gary Mitchell and his wife Bev of Ihlen, Minnesota, Donald Mitchell and his wife Mila of Trosky, Minnesota, and Keith Mitchell and his wife Patti of Pipestone, Minnesota; and five sisters, Marlys Hazelton and her husband Francis of Pipestone, Minnesota, Judi Brennan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Betty Zeik of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, Nancy Mitchell of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Vicki Miller and her husband Kevin of Sparks, Nevada. He was preceded in death by his parents; his father-in-law and his mother-in-law, John and Gladys Morrison; his brother, Kenneth Mitchell; his sister-in-law, Shirley Mitchell; and his brothers-in-law, Robert Brennan and Dennis Zeik.