Robert Lee "Mitch" Mitchell 1887-1940

MITCHELL, PETERSON, ERICKSON, BREES, CLARK, RAW

Posted By: Merllene Andre Bendixen (email)
Date: 4/27/2014 at 21:48:44

Dolliver Man Dies Suddenly
Robert Mitchell, Long Time Resident of County, Is a Victim of Heart Attack; Funeral Held Tuesday
Funeral services for Robert L. Mitchell of Dolliver, were held Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 o’clock at the home and 2:00 o’clock in the Dolliver Methodist church. Burial was in the Dolliver cemetery. Mr. Mitchell was found dead in bed early Sunday [May 19, 1940] morning. His death was caused from a heart attack.

Robert Lee Mitchell was born in Sheffield, Iowa, October 8, 1886. He was 53 years old at the time of his death. He came to Dolliver with his parents and for the past several years has been employed as park custodian at Tuttle Lake park. He was unmarried.

Surviving Mr. Mitchell are his mother, Mrs. John Mitchell and three sisters, Mrs. Samuel Brees of Whittier, Calif., Mrs. Herman Erickson of Washington, D.C. and Mrs. H.L. Peterson of Dolliver. (Vindicator and Republican, Estherville, IA, May 23, 1940)

This community was saddened Sunday by the death of Lee Mitchell early Sunday morning at the home of his mother, Mrs. Mary Mitchell. Mr. Mitchell was taken ill Saturday evening and died about 1 o’clock of a heart attack brought on by acute indigestion. Mr. Mitchell was custodian of the state park. ON Monday at the Dolliver school picnic Rev. Day gave a short memorial service and the flag at the park was lowered to half mast in honor of Mr. Mitchell. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 23, 1940)

Lee Mitchell of Dolliver Died Very Suddenly Sunday
Robert Lee Mitchell passed away suddenly at his home in Dolliver with a severe heart attack last Sunday. He had not been in failing health and his sudden death was a severe shock to his family and friends.

Mr. Mitchell was 53 years of age and a veteran of the World War. He was born in Sheffield, Iowa. He resided with his parent, Mr. and Mrs. J.B. Mitchell on a farm near Dolliver until they moved to Dolliver some 25 years ago.

He was custodian of Okamanpedan park and had a wide circle of acquaintances who visited the park and knew him well and admired him for his worth.

He is survived by his mother and three sisters. The funeral services were held from the Dolliver Methodist church, the Rev C.L. Day officiating. Interment was made in the Dolliver cemetery. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 23, 1940)

Funeral services were held Thursday afternoon for Robert Lee Mitchell at the Dolliver Community church. Robert Lee Mitchell was born at Sheffield, Iowa, Oct. 8, 1887 and passed away at the home of his mother, Mrs. Mary Mitchell May 19. He moved with his parents from Sheffield to a farm southwest of Dolliver when eight years old where he lived until his parents moved to Dolliver 25 years ago. He was baptized when a child and was received into membership of the Dolliver Methodist church under the ministry of Rev. Harwood in1899. He was educated in the Emmet county school system, attending Dolliver high school and later Morningside college at Sioux City. After his honorable discharge from the army he served as custodian of Okamanpedan state park and it was here he turned a bit of wild acreage into one of the beauty spots of Iowa. “A Monument of His Love of Beauty in Nature.” He was always quiet and retiring, deeply loved by those who knew him best. The news of his death left his many friends stunned. Dolliver will miss “Mitch” as he was called by all. He leaves to mourn his mother to whom he was always most loyal and three sisters, Mrs. W.L. Peterson of Dolliver, Mrs. E.H. Erickson of Washington, D.C., and Mrs. S.G. Brees of Whittier, Calif. His father preceded him in death a number of years ago. Out of town relatives attending the funeral were Mr. and Mrs. E.H. Erickson, Mrs. S.G. Brees and Glen Clark and Will Raw of Britt. (Estherville Enterprise, Estherville, IA, May 30, 1940)

Note: per WWI Draft records, dob October 8, 1887