H.J. "Mitch" Mitchell

Born October 10, 1938 in Peoria, he was the son of Alfred J. and Dorothy P. (Stout) Mitchell. After they divorced, he lived and was raised by his beloved grandparents, Mamie and Cleo E. Stout of East Peoria. He married Patricia L. Ockerby on August 26, 1961 in Creve Coeur. She died November 29, 2022. He was also preceded in death by his parents, grandparents; two aunts who helped raise him, Bernadine (Stout) Marteness and Dolores (Stout) Danz; stepfathers, Louis Abel and Raymond King and one sister, Deanna Reed.

He is survived by a sister, Holly (John) Wray of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; several nieces and nephews; several cousins and many dear friends.

Mitch attended Bradley University, where he studied Architectural Engineering and then began his working career at Caterpillar, Inc. in Morton in 1959. He hired in working on the paint line and held various jobs in inventory control, orders division, data processing, as a foreman over shipping and Manager of the Orders Division. Mitch retired in 1999 from Parts Marketing with more than 40 years of service. While at Cat, Mitch was involved in Junior Achievement and led the United Way campaign. Mitch was a member, past president and a past campaign chairman of the United Way Board in Pekin. He always had strong feelings regarding the work of the United Way and the need for their programs. He also volunteered with Boy Scouts of America as membership chairman and district chairman of the Tamarora district and was a former board member of the W.D. Boyce Council.

Mitch had a great passion for collecting, restoring and showing classic cars and was an active member of the Jaguar Club of St. Louis, the St. Louis MG Club, North American MGA Register, International Jaguar Club of London and the International MG Club of London. He was a past chair of the Central Illinois British Car Club for 7 years. Mitch enjoyed designing and building homes and especially enjoyed travel with his wife throughout the world.

He was a member of Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin and a longtime member of Pekin Country Club. He was a former member of the Pekin Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors.

His funeral will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 13, 2022 at Grace United Methodist Church in Pekin, where he will lie in state one hour before the funeral. Pastor Eric N. Swanson will officiate. Burial will be in Fon du Lac Township Cemetery in East Peoria.

Arrangements have been entrusted to Preston-Hanley Funeral Homes & Crematory in Pekin.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Grace United Methodist Church, 601 North 4th Street, Pekin, IL 61554.

To express condolences online, visit www.preston-hanley.com