Donald Eugene "Don" Mitchell (71) of Kansas City, MO

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Published on September 18 2020 10:41 am

Donald Eugene “Don” Mitchell, 71, of Kansas City, Missouri, passed away Sunday, September 13, 2020, at North Kansas City Hospital.

Funeral services celebrating Don’s life will be held at 10:30 AM Saturday, September 26, 2020, at the Meyer Funeral Home in Newton, Illinois, with Mike Knepper officiating. Visitation will be held ½ hour before the service. Burial will be in the Brick Cemetery north west of Newton, Illinois, with full military rites by the Jasper Post #20 American Legion. The obituary can be viewed, and condolences left at www.meyerfh.com

Don was born on October 26, 1948, in Mount Vernon, Illinois, the son of Glendall “Glen” and Betty Jean Mitchell. He married Alice Jean Fouty on April 6, 1968, in Olney, Illinois, and she preceded him in death on March 10, 2019. Don was a 1966 graduate of East Richland High School and attended Olney Central College. Don served his country in the United States Army during the Vietnam War, and continued his service in the National Guard until 1985. After his distinguished service in the U.S. Army, Don had a 45-year career as an engineer, the majority of which was in the automotive industry, taking him around the country and to international manufacturing locations. Don began his career at Associated Spring Corp. in Mattoon, Illinois. In 1980, Don, his wife Jean and their three sons moved to Chickasha, Oklahoma, where Don worked for Maramount. He moved to Marion, Illinois in 1985, where he lived for 22 years. Don worked at several manufacturing companies including Olin Corporation in Marion, Illinois, Takata Corporation in Seattle, Washington, and General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, Arlington, Texas, and St. Charles, Missouri. In 2007, Jean and Don moved to Kansas City, Missouri, where he worked for General Motors until he retired in 2018.

Don is survived by his sons, Michael E. (Christy) Mitchell of Harrisburg, Illinois, Kevin L. (Laurel) Mitchell of Irvine, California and Eric A. (Sabrina) Mitchell of Liberty, Missouri; grandchildren, Dylan Mitchell, Brenden Mitchell, Carson Mitchell, Owen Mitchell, Jacob Mitchell and Quinn Mitchell; brothers, Lee Mitchell of Olney, Illinois, Bob Mitchell of Paragould, Arkansas and his sister Linda (Mitchell) Thomason of Nashville, Tennessee.

Don was preceded in death by his father Glen Mitchell, his mother Betty Mitchell and his wife Jean Mitchell.