Milton G. Mitchell age 78 of Oshkosh and formerly of Hillsboro, WI, passed away peacefully on Tuesday June 23, 2009 at Aurora Medical Center in Oshkosh surrounded by family and friends.
He was born on the family farm on February 9, 1931. He was baptized on February 28, 1931.
He grew up on the family farm through the depression and WW II with his five brothers and sisters, his parents Gerold and Stephana (Wittrock) Mitchell and his grandmother Anna Belle (Harris, Mitchell) Walker and her husband John Walker.
After high school he served 6 years in the United States Navy much of it as an Electronics Technician in a PBM Flying Boat Squadron doing electronic surveillance off the China coast during the Korean conflict. He later spent 20 years in a Naval Reserve Encryption Unit before retiring. He was very patriotic and proud to have served his country as a sailor. He could recite the names of dozens of aircraft carriers and submarines and the class each belonged in. He also volunteered at the EAA Museum to be around some of the aircraft and share his vast knowledge of various warplanes.
Milton enrolled at the UW Madison in1955, graduating with a BS in Ag Economics with honors in 1959 and later earning an MS in Economics. While there he joined Alpha Gamma Rho an agricultural fraternity where he formed many friendships he enjoyed through his life.
He was a life-long member of the Lutheran Church and contributed generously in many ways. He loved singing in the choir and even equipped and led a hand bell choir. As leader for many years of the Lutheran Boy Pioneers, he taught many boys and young men about Christianity
and the value of discipline and hard work to reach a goal. The boys enjoyed camping and the canoe trips he led and one of the boys he met and helped shape, Shawn Ristow, became like a son to him. Shawn, along with his wife Karen and their children Joshua, Marie and Elyssa had become a support and a joy for him and were surely part of his family! Milt enjoyed playing his concertinas for shut-ins, nursing homes, and family. At the UW Oshkosh where he was a professor for many years he taught several popular courses. His students found him to be strict and fair but intolerant of lack of effort.
Milton is survived by: two brothers, Victor and John, a sister Cherie (Mitchell) Pintsch, many nieces, nephews, grand nieces, and grand nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Ellen, and his brother Fred.
Milt was a member of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Oshkosh where a Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, July 11, 2009 at 9:00 AM followed by coffee and bakery in the Fellowship hall at the Church.
A Memorial Service and interment will then be held at the Hillsprairie Cemetery at 12:30 PM on Sunday, July 12th. The cemetery is located at the intersection of County Hwy's F and WW about 4 miles north of Hillsboro. Lunch will be served afterward at St Paul's Lutheran Church, (579 Lake St, Hillsboro). In lieu of flowers, memorials could go to St Paul's, Wels Disaster Relief or Good Shepherd Lutheran Church Memorial fund.