Jim was born on December 11, 1931 to Alfreda (Sygler) and Mitchell in South Bend, Indiana. He attended Purdue University where he studied business, ran track, and later began his career in finance for Studebaker, an American automobile manufacturer based in South Bend. During the Korean conflict, Jim joined the U.S. Army, was stationed in Chicago, Illinois, where he ran track for the Army. Jim was so fast, he would lap his competitors before they finished their first time around the track.
Always an athlete and competitor, Jim met his wife Brenda (Wilson) at the hospital where she worked as a registered nurse after he broke his nose playing football. Within 7 months, they eloped and were married in Las Vegas, Nevada. They were married 52 years and enjoyed traveling the world together, especially the beaches of Normandy where his older brother served during WWII and Alaska (their favorite).
Growing up during the Great Depression in a 3 generation household, Jim had vivid memories of the neighborhood men, who were factory workers, making tomato soup out of hot water and ketchup packets for their lunch. An environmentalist before his time, Jim recycled, repurposed or reused everything and could make a sail boat out of scrap wood or a game out of a sugar packet. Jim was also a saver and collector. He collected many things such as stamps, coins, steins, and magnets from around the world. Jim loved animals and had a variety of pets throughout his life starting with a goose named Champy and a Bassett hound named Beauregard. Jim adopted many stray dogs over the years and thought they made the best pets because they were so grateful for a loving home.
Jim was a craftsman and enjoyed woodworking, like his father, as well as building balsa wood model airplanes and rockets. On any given day, you would find him working in his shop, playing golf or chess, or watching Alabama, Notre Dame or Purdue football.
Jim had a love for the water and all things nautical. Family vacations were always spent at the lake with a pontoon boat and lots of fishing or at the beach where he would throw coins into the holes his children dug who were searching for buried treasure. During retirement, he fulfilled one of his dreams and bought a 32 foot cruiser which was named “Father Goose” after the Cary Grant movie, in honor of his 5 granddaughters.
One principle Jim felt strongly about was “education is the one thing that can never be taken away from you” and he encouraged his wife, Brenda to seek multiple masters degrees, his son Bryan to get a doctorate, and his daughter Jennifer to get a masters. He also was very proud that every generation in his family had done financially better than the last.
Jim is survived by his wife, Brenda, son Bryan (Stacey) Mitchell of Memphis, daughter Jennifer (Michael) Lapidus of Huntsville; and granddaughters Madison, Lauren, Margot, Meredith and Mercer; and dog Bailleigh.
A family celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your local pet shelter. Roll Tide!
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.MemphisFuneralGermantownParkway.com for the Mitchell family.
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