Herald Mitchell

Herald “Sliver” Claude Mitchell was born on December 25, 1920, on the family farm near Buckingham, the son of Claude and Sara (Burr) Mitchell. He graduated from Geneseo High School with the class of 1939. On June 10, 1945, Herald was united in marriage to Elsie Lorenzen at Geneseo United Methodist Church. The couple made their home in Geneseo until moving to Dysart in 1974. Herald drove a school bus, farmed, and was a custodian at Geneseo and Dysart-Geneseo schools until his retirement in 1982. He was a lifelong member of Geneseo United Methodist Church. Herald enjoyed taking his grandchildren fishing, showing cattle, upholstery and repair, and perfecting his woodworking craft. He would create wooden decorations, games, and holiday pieces. Herald died at the age of 97 on November 8, 2018, at Sunrise Hill Care Center in Traer. He was preceded in death by his parents and his siblings, Fanny, Robert, Frank, Edith, Norman, Roland, and Philip. Herald is survived by his wife; three children, Tom (Jan) Mitchell, Randy Mitchell, and Joleen (Mark) Nechanicky; ten grandchildren, Micki (Jeff) Reints, Wendy (Brad) Hansen, Scott (Amanda) Mitchell, Daniel (Renea) Mitchell, Rachel (Brian) Miles, Dawn (Jason) Thurnau, Andrea (Dan) Dufner, Nicole Nechanicky, Adam (Lindsey) Nechanicky, and Gina (Jay) Feldt; 30 great grandchildren; and eight great great grandchildren.