Orvel Mitchell

ORVEL JAMES MITCHELL September 10, 1923 – November 18, 2017    Orvel Mitchell, 94, of Park Rapids, MN passed away on November 18, 2017 at Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids.   Visitation will be held at Jones-Pearson Funeral Home on Monday, November 27, 2017 from 5:00pm-8:00pm. Visitation will continue beginning one hour prior to the service at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Tuesday.    The funeral service will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Tuesday, November 28 at 11:00am. Reverend James Neubauer will be officiating the service; Orvel’s 10 grandchildren will be serving as the casket bearers. After the service, lunch will be provided by the church for all to celebrate Orvel’s life. Burial will follow at Arago-Clover-Evergreen Cemetery north of Park Rapids.    Orvel was born and raised in Park Rapids, MN to Frank and Ellen (Garwood) Mitchell on September 10, 1923. He attended the country school near his family’s farm until the 8th grade when he took over the duties of the farm. He then began his career as a heavy equipment operator doing road construction, and was one of the first in the county to operate a cat. He spent his winters logging timber near Itasca State Park. On April 16, 1945, Orvel married Lois Pierce at the Courthouse in Park Rapids. Their marriage was blessed with four sons: Lyle, LeRoy, Don and Darrel. Orvel was very involved in his community, as he was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church and later St. John’s Lutheran Church. He was also a member of the Hubbard County Sheriff’s Posse, the Park Rapids Eagles Club, the International Operators Union, and the Local 49ers. In his free time, he loved tending to and riding his horses, hunting, spear fishing and putzing around the garage.    Orvel is preceded in death by his wife, Lois in 2004; parents: Frank and Ellen; three brothers: Charlie, Roy and Frank; one sister: Rachel; and one nephew: Pat.    Orvel will be lovingly remembered by his four sons: Lyle (Joyce) Mitchell, LeRoy (Kathy) Mitchell, Don (Shelly) Mitchell, and Darrel (Theresa) Mitchell; his ten grandchildren: Terry, Sheri, Tom, Tonya, Taryn, Lisa, Kelly, Casey, Makayla, and Alyssa; fifteen great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren; three sisters: Rose Schultz, Doris Mitchell and Mary Niska; as well as many other relatives and friends.    Orvel’s family wishes to extend their sincerest gratitude to the Heritage Living Center in Park Rapids and St. Joseph Hospice, for their loving support and care in his final years.