Harry "Ed" Mitchell

Harry Edward “Ed” Mitchell was born October 9, 1921 in Sutton, Nebraska to Harry E. and Anna (Hunzeker) Mitchell. He was one of five siblings and was raised on a farm in rural Nebraska. In 1941 he graduated from Trenton High School. As a young man he worked as a farm and ranch hand and met his future wife, Helen Major, while working her father’s farm.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1942 and was sent to basic training in Camp Crowder, Missouri. He was later stationed in San Francisco. Helen joined him there and they were married New Year’s Day 1943. After Ed was shipped out Helen returned to Colorado where the first of their four children, Robert, was born in February, 1944. Ed was in the Army Signal Corp where he worked as a cryptographer. He was stationed in Hawaii, Guam, and Japan, where he was one of the first troops into Tokyo after the war ended.

Ed returned to Colorado and he and Helen were blessed with a daughter, Janet, in 1946. Kathy followed in 1951 and Linda in 1954. He worked for the Denver Water Board as an assistant civil engineer building dams throughout the Rocky Mountain region, retiring in 1985 after 32 years of loyal service.

After his retirement, he and Helen enjoyed traveling around the country in their motor home, visiting family and friends. He was a wonderful cook and was well known for his bread, carrot cake and lemon meringue pie. He shared his talents with many neighbors and friends. He was an excellent carpenter and made many beautiful pieces of furniture and small gifts for family and friends. He had two memorable fishing trips to Alaska with son Bob and grandson Tony, catching salmon and halibut, fulfilling a lifelong dream.

He was also a strong man of faith and involved in many church activities. He really “walked the walk” of the Christian life, and was an example to many. He was a man of integrity and honesty, someone you could count on, and had a sense of humor that he shared with everyone!

His wife and family were the center of his life. He was preceded in death by Helen, his wife of 61 years in 2004, and son Bob in 2009. He is survived by his daughters Janet Hehr of Lakewood, CO, Kathy (Jay) Wright of Anacortes, WA, and Linda Royval of Lakewood, CO, 11 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, and 4 great-great grandchildren.

Ed and Helen had many good friends, among them Bea and Marvin Auch, who they met at Berkeley United Church of Christ in Denver. Following the death of their spouses, Bea became Ed’s loving companion, sharing many happy years together until his death.