Robert Lee Mitchell (2024)
CRADDOCK, ESLINGER, GILBERT, GRIMM, JOHNSON, MCCARTHY, MITCHELL, SANDERS, THOMPSON
Posted By: Pat Hochstetler
Date: 5/11/2024 at 17:23:38
Powers Funeral Home
Afton, Iowa
May 2024August 30, 1949 – May 09, 2024
Robert (Bob) Lee Mitchell, age 74, of Afton, gained his angel wings on May 9th, 2024 at Veterans Memorial Hospital in Des Moines, IA. Celebration of Life Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 14, 2024, at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. Burial will be at Moon Cemetery near Macksburg. Pastor Mary O’Riley will officiate. Military rites will be by Theodore J. Martens, Creston VFW Post #1797. Open visitation will be 2:00-7:00 p.m. Monday, with family receiving friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Powers Funeral Home in Afton. In lieu of flowers, memorials are to the Lorimor American Legion Post #96. Online condolences may be made at powersfh.com.
Bob was born on August 30th, 1949, in rural Guthrie County to Washington Irven and Doris Nadene (Gilbert) Mitchell. He graduated from Menlo High School in 1967. After high school he had a short stint working at the Redfield Brick Yard before he was drafted into the United States Army. Bob was deployed to Vietnam in June 1969. He returned home from Vietnam in June 1970 and left for Germany in November of 1970. Bob returned from Germany in March 1971.
Bob was united in marriage to Karla Kae Sanders in Dexter, IA on May 29th, 1971. To this union three daughters were born; Shannon, Stacy, and Wendi "Bobbie". Bob and Karla resided in Booneville, where he worked for Cramer Bridge Company out of Des Moines. In 1973, Bob and Karla purchased a farm north of Afton where they remained for 53 years. During this time, Bob spent his time farming, welding, fabricating, mechanically engineering, inventing, and telling the most amazing stories. Around 1991, Bob worked for Midwest Products in Winterset. After a fire, the company later relocated to Corning where he continued to work until retirement.
Bob never met a stranger and spent many days and hours helping his daughters, nieces, nephews, and grandkids. He was a jack of all trades and never found a project or job he couldn’t tackle. Bob had a heart of gold and used his skills to not only help others, but teach them as well. Lessons were always learned when around him, having a huge impact on those he encountered. Bob’s grandkids meant the world to him and he to them. Countless days were spent on the farm and he made sure they all played hard, but worked hard too. “Gramps” left each one of them with their own special memory but many more of them growing up so closely together. He was the best story-teller around and even passed on the trait to his kids and grandkids!
Bob is survived by his wife Karla of 53 years and daughters Shannon Thompson (Clint Hoffman) of Diagonal, Stacy Johnson (Mike) of Gilbert, and Wendi “Bobbie” Eslinger (late Jeff) of Macksburg; grandchildren, Morgan Thompson (Cooper McDermott), David Thompson (Chloe), Wyatt Thompson (Jaxie), Keaton Eslinger (Liz McNamara), Mitchell Johnson (ShyAnne Brogden), Beau Thompson (Kara Kinsella), Kaela Eslinger, Vanessa Johnson, Hank Johnson, and Kinsey Eslinger; great grandchildren Ellie Thompson and Layton Thompson; brothers Jim Mitchell (Cheryl) of Creston, Keith Mitchell (Karen)of Thayer; sister Judy McCarthy of Creston, several nieces and nephews, and many brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law.
Bob is preceded in death by his parents, Irven and Doris Mitchell, brother Donnie Mitchell, sister Sheryl Mitchell, uncle Skip Mitchell, son-in-law Jeff Eslinger, brothers-in-law Shorty McCarthy, Billy Sanders, and Ronald Sanders; sisters-in-law Margie Craddock, Gene Sanders, Peggy Grimm, and Lola Sanders.
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