My Uncle Mitch

This is a hard one to write.  2021 has been a year of such loss.  But, as I have been pondering, great loss is only possible because of great joy.  So I want to remember, with joy and thanksgiving, my wonderful Uncle Mitch who passed away on October 9, 2021.  

Uncle Mitch was a family physician and he embodied the very best of that noble profession.  He was beloved in his hometown of Nevada, and also within his family.  He was well known for being the best diagnostician anywhere.  Many times Mitch could diagnose an illness over the phone when an in-person doctor had been unable to determine what was going on.  Mitch just had a true gift for medicine and healing and people.  

He loved people well - within his family and beyond.  So many folks have stories of Mitch's generosity and kindness and friendliness.  He was a welcoming guy who always made you feel right at home.  He had the best chuckle and twinkle in his eye.  He loved a good meal, a nice glass of wine, and yet he also loved a bucket of fried frog legs and those plastic bags of candies you buy in the Mennonite store.  :)  

He was up for any adventure with people he loved.  Mitch, Daddy, and their other brother, Charles spent many wonderful weekends camping with horses on the family farm in Shelbina.  They would ride horses around the countryside of their youth and share stories and memories while enjoying a wonderful meal - all weekend long!  It was a great honor when they invited others in to join them... and everyone always came away from those times feeling like they had experienced something very special.  

Mitch was Daddy's last remaining sibling, and also the youngest.  We always called those close-knit siblings 'the five'.  We used to joke at family reunions that we were like the paparazzi when they would gather together - all of us taking photos of them at once!  But aren't we glad we did!  I picture them like this...

'The Five' at Oak Ridge Baptist Church - 
Mitch, Carolyn, Jack, Marjorie, Charles

And then The Five again at the Lentner Post Office, just before it was torn down to expand the highway. 
Charles, Carolyn, Mitch, Marjorie, Jack 

This is one of my favorite photos of them - and very typical -
 they were all cutting up and laughing.  :) 

We can go way back in the memories to the three brothers (who were the youngest of the five) sharing a used Schwinn bicycle that their Dad had bought for them.  They were so very proud of that bike and more than willing to share it!

In later years those 3 'boys' would go on to divide many things in thirds... costs for family reunions, for upkeep of a family farm, for dinners out or whatever else they thought they could get Ilene, Sue, and Jan to go along with.  :D  There were a lot of jokes about how it was easy - just divide it ⅓, ⅓, ⅓.  But truly, those 'boys' loved each other so much and always worked well together - throughout their entire lives.  

Those brothers were looking pretty snazzy in the early 70's!
Mitch, Jack, Charles

Here are a few photos from those Guys Weekends in Shelbina... wonderful memories!

Mitch, Jack, Charles

Mitch riding Governor

Marvin (with Shadow), Charles and Mitch (with Dick and Bob, the Haflinger team)
at Lowman Chapel 

Daddy driving the team with a full wagon - Marvin and Kerry following on horseback. 

Then there were all the wonderful times camping next to each other at the Missouri State Fair.  (That was where we could count on Mitch bringing those frog legs by!!)  What wonderful memories...

Mitch and Daddy off to see the fair!

Troy, Mitch, and Julie at the fair 

We got to see Uncle Mitch and Aunt Jan in February 2020 when I drove Mama and Daddy down to visit them.  We spent 2 wonderful days with them enjoying time together.  That was just before the pandemic hit and I have thought many times how fortunate we were to have that time together right then.  There is never enough time... and our hearts hurt, no doubt about it.  But I am thankful for all the memories that I have of a wonderful uncle and family times.  

Daddy, Aunt Jan, Mama, Uncle Mitch
Sure missing Mama and Uncle Mitch - so much.  

Daddy and Mitch - February 2020

Please keep my dear Aunt Jan and all their family in your prayers as they learn to live without Uncle Mitch.