Judge Edwin Lee Mitchell, age 80, of Alton, unexpectedly passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2018, in Rockwall, Texas.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, at 11:00am, at the Alton Presbyterian Church in Alton. Rev. Harlan De Jong and nephew Pastor Jack Briggs will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the First Plymouth Presbyterian Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Ed, the son of George E. and Mildred L. (Reed) Mitchell, was born on December 4, 1937, in Le Mars. He was raised on a farm outside of Cleghorn. As a young man, he helped his father on the farm and attended Cleghorn High School. After graduation he attended Morningside College where he met Marian Johnson. After college, Ed moved to Des Moines where he earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School.
On October 23, 1959, he married Marian Johnson in Des Moines. In 1961, they made their home in Alton, and Ed set up his private law practice. They were blessed with two daughters, Tana and Amy. Both his family and his law practice thrived. Ed worked hard to earn the respect and trust of his new community. He was appointed to the bench as a District Court Judge for the State of Iowa by Governor Terry Branstad in 1985.
Ed was an accomplished musician. While pursuing his education, he worked as a jazz musician throughout the U.S. and Canada including accompanying many national acts. Ed and Marian also treasured making music together. In his retirement, Ed toured senior communities playing music requested by his fans.
They loved traveling to new places and volunteered in missions at Heifer Project in Massachusetts and Sheldon Jackson College in Alaska. Ed was a faithful member of the Alton Presbyterian Church and choir. He had a quick wit, a delightful sense of humor, and relished telling stories. Ed wrote poems for people who touched his life. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brother, Richard Mitchell. Survivors include his daughters, Tana Jo (Dr. Bob) Sparks, of Rockwall, Texas; and Amy Christine (Bob) Becker, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mary Jo Sparks, Amy Lou Sparks, and Michael Bradford Sparks; sister, Carol Mitchell Briggs, of Algonquin, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Sandra Mitchell Parks, of Cleveland, Minnesota and Elizabeth Johnson Oliphant, of Cedar Rapids; and brother-in-law, Raymond Weenink, of Hawarden.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, at 11:00am, at the Alton Presbyterian Church in Alton. Rev. Harlan De Jong and nephew Pastor Jack Briggs will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the First Plymouth Presbyterian Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Ed, the son of George E. and Mildred L. (Reed) Mitchell, was born on December 4, 1937, in Le Mars. He was raised on a farm outside of Cleghorn. As a young man, he helped his father on the farm and attended Cleghorn High School. After graduation he attended Morningside College where he met Marian Johnson. After college, Ed moved to Des Moines where he earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School.
On October 23, 1959, he married Marian Johnson in Des Moines. In 1961, they made their home in Alton, and Ed set up his private law practice. They were blessed with two daughters, Tana and Amy. Both his family and his law practice thrived. Ed worked hard to earn the respect and trust of his new community. He was appointed to the bench as a District Court Judge for the State of Iowa by Governor Terry Branstad in 1985.
Ed was an accomplished musician. While pursuing his education, he worked as a jazz musician throughout the U.S. and Canada including accompanying many national acts. Ed and Marian also treasured making music together. In his retirement, Ed toured senior communities playing music requested by his fans.
They loved traveling to new places and volunteered in missions at Heifer Project in Massachusetts and Sheldon Jackson College in Alaska. Ed was a faithful member of the Alton Presbyterian Church and choir. He had a quick wit, a delightful sense of humor, and relished telling stories. Ed wrote poems for people who touched his life. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brother, Richard Mitchell. Survivors include his daughters, Tana Jo (Dr. Bob) Sparks, of Rockwall, Texas; and Amy Christine (Bob) Becker, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mary Jo Sparks, Amy Lou Sparks, and Michael Bradford Sparks; sister, Carol Mitchell Briggs, of Algonquin, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Sandra Mitchell Parks, of Cleveland, Minnesota and Elizabeth Johnson Oliphant, of Cedar Rapids; and brother-in-law, Raymond Weenink, of Hawarden.
Judge Edwin Lee Mitchell, age 80, of Alton, unexpectedly passed away on Thursday, November 29, 2018, in Rockwall, Texas.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, at 11:00am, at the Alton Presbyterian Church in Alton. Rev. Harlan De Jong and nephew Pastor Jack Briggs will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the First Plymouth Presbyterian Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Ed, the son of George E. and Mildred L. (Reed) Mitchell, was born on December 4, 1937, in Le Mars. He was raised on a farm outside of Cleghorn. As a young man, he helped his father on the farm and attended Cleghorn High School. After graduation he attended Morningside College where he met Marian Johnson. After college, Ed moved to Des Moines where he earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School.
On October 23, 1959, he married Marian Johnson in Des Moines. In 1961, they made their home in Alton, and Ed set up his private law practice. They were blessed with two daughters, Tana and Amy. Both his family and his law practice thrived. Ed worked hard to earn the respect and trust of his new community. He was appointed to the bench as a District Court Judge for the State of Iowa by Governor Terry Branstad in 1985.
Ed was an accomplished musician. While pursuing his education, he worked as a jazz musician throughout the U.S. and Canada including accompanying many national acts. Ed and Marian also treasured making music together. In his retirement, Ed toured senior communities playing music requested by his fans.
They loved traveling to new places and volunteered in missions at Heifer Project in Massachusetts and Sheldon Jackson College in Alaska. Ed was a faithful member of the Alton Presbyterian Church and choir. He had a quick wit, a delightful sense of humor, and relished telling stories. Ed wrote poems for people who touched his life. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brother, Richard Mitchell. Survivors include his daughters, Tana Jo (Dr. Bob) Sparks, of Rockwall, Texas; and Amy Christine (Bob) Becker, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mary Jo Sparks, Amy Lou Sparks, and Michael Bradford Sparks; sister, Carol Mitchell Briggs, of Algonquin, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Sandra Mitchell Parks, of Cleveland, Minnesota and Elizabeth Johnson Oliphant, of Cedar Rapids; and brother-in-law, Raymond Weenink, of Hawarden.
A memorial service will be held on Saturday, December 22, at 11:00am, at the Alton Presbyterian Church in Alton. Rev. Harlan De Jong and nephew Pastor Jack Briggs will officiate. Interment will be prior to the service at the First Plymouth Presbyterian Cemetery in Le Mars. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, from 5:00pm to 7:00pm, at the Oolman Funeral Home in Orange City.
Ed, the son of George E. and Mildred L. (Reed) Mitchell, was born on December 4, 1937, in Le Mars. He was raised on a farm outside of Cleghorn. As a young man, he helped his father on the farm and attended Cleghorn High School. After graduation he attended Morningside College where he met Marian Johnson. After college, Ed moved to Des Moines where he earned his Juris Doctorate from Drake University Law School.
On October 23, 1959, he married Marian Johnson in Des Moines. In 1961, they made their home in Alton, and Ed set up his private law practice. They were blessed with two daughters, Tana and Amy. Both his family and his law practice thrived. Ed worked hard to earn the respect and trust of his new community. He was appointed to the bench as a District Court Judge for the State of Iowa by Governor Terry Branstad in 1985.
Ed was an accomplished musician. While pursuing his education, he worked as a jazz musician throughout the U.S. and Canada including accompanying many national acts. Ed and Marian also treasured making music together. In his retirement, Ed toured senior communities playing music requested by his fans.
They loved traveling to new places and volunteered in missions at Heifer Project in Massachusetts and Sheldon Jackson College in Alaska. Ed was a faithful member of the Alton Presbyterian Church and choir. He had a quick wit, a delightful sense of humor, and relished telling stories. Ed wrote poems for people who touched his life. Most of all he enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
Ed was preceded in death by his wife, parents, and brother, Richard Mitchell. Survivors include his daughters, Tana Jo (Dr. Bob) Sparks, of Rockwall, Texas; and Amy Christine (Bob) Becker, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; grandchildren, Mary Jo Sparks, Amy Lou Sparks, and Michael Bradford Sparks; sister, Carol Mitchell Briggs, of Algonquin, Illinois; sisters-in-law, Sandra Mitchell Parks, of Cleveland, Minnesota and Elizabeth Johnson Oliphant, of Cedar Rapids; and brother-in-law, Raymond Weenink, of Hawarden.
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