September 6, 1950 – May 3, 2019
David Michael Rozzell was born in Knoxville, Tennessee, on September 6, 1950, to Jack W. Rozzell and
Sarah Raines Rozzell, joining two older siblings, Patricia Rozzell Gillespie and John W. Rozzell. Mike
departed this life on May 3, 2019.
Mike was a lifelong native of South Knoxville, attending elementary school at Mount Olive. He began
High School at Young High School and graduated from Doyle High School in May 1968. During his school
years he was a member of the school chorus and a fly weight boxer.
Mike joined the U.S. Navy in April 1969, serving three tours during the Vietnam conflict. Upon his
discharge from the Navy in 1973, Mike returned to East Tennessee where he attended classes at the
University of Tennessee and married his first wife, Beth Needham.
Mike worked at various occupations and eventually became employed as an ironworker/welder working
for ESI Erection Company about 1985. Ironworking/welding soon became his passion. He worked on
countless buildings in and around Knox County, and for other construction companies in surrounding
states. It was while working on a job in Sidney, NE, that he met his wife, Cherrill. They were married in
1986.
Mike took great pride in his work and trained and mentored others to do the same. During his long
career as an ironworker Mike always returned from a job with new friends who he maintained contact
with long after they had completed the job at hand and had gone their separate ways.
Mike loved his country and was proud of his military service. He had great compassion and concern for
the plight of homeless veterans and hungry children. Above all he loved the hills of East Tennessee and
its’ people.
Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents, Hester and Viola Rozzell, and John and Matilde Raines,
his father, Jack W. Rozzell; his stepson Jeffrey R. Brestel; step-father Fred Mapes; and many aunts,
uncles and cousins. He is survived by his mother, Sarah Rozzell Mapes; his sister Patricia Gillespie and
her husband Wally Gillespie, nephews Brock Gillespie, and Clark Gillespie and wife Falen; his brother
John W. “Jack” Rozzell, niece Kelly Ospina and husband John Ospina, nephew Wesley Rozzell and wife
Katie Rozzell, and great-nephews Gavin and Ben; special cousin Hal Raines and Hal’s daughter Michelle
and son Michael; step-brothers Tim, Maury, and Rob Mapes and their spouses and children.
Mike also leaves his wife, Cherrill Rozzell and stepdaughter Valerie Ohle and husband Lewis Ohle of
Knoxville, grandchildren Aidan Ohle, Katherine Brestel Montes and husband Ricardo; greatgrandchildren Keagan Brestel and Genevieve Montes of Hendersonville, NC, great-grandson Seth W.
Ohle and great-great-grandson Forest Ohle; stepdaughter Jennifer Hilton and husband Gary Hilton,
grandchildren Aubrey Brestel Woodruff and husband Lance of Blount County, TN, grandson Garrett
Michael Hilton; stepson Jonathan Brestel and fiancé Angie Hollifield, grandson Jesse Kent Brestel;
stepdaughter Arlene Brestel, granddaughter Cayla Roberts and great-grandchildren Caden and Olivia
Roberts of Griffin, GA, and grandson Jeremy R. Brestel, Charleston, SC.
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