Obituary for Donna Mae Mitchell (Lindahl)
Iron Mountain- Donna Mae (Lindahl) Mitchell, 89, passed away on Sunday, March 8, 2020 at the Freeman Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Kingsford after a lengthy battle with dementia with her son Ward at her side.
She was born on May 30, 1930 to Gustaf and Josephine (Larson) Lindahl in Gladstone, Michigan. She was a 1948 graduate of Gladstone High School. One summer day while attending a picnic Donna met a man Ward Mitchell from Iron Mountain who she ended up marrying. Ward and Donna were married on April 21, 1956 in Gladstone. They soon after moved to the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area where they spent the remainder of their lives raising their family.
Donna initially worked for Town and Country Ford in Kingsford and later went on to retire from the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District as an administrative assistant. After her retirement Ward and Donna had the opportunity to travel throughout parts of the United States and parts of Canada to include a few trips to Alaska to spend some time with their son Ward.
Donna was blessed with exceptional musical talent, both vocal and instrumental. She had a wonderful singing voice and she also played the piano, organ and accordion. Donna began playing the piano when she was 4 years old and continued with music for the rest of her life. Even as a young girl she loved to share her talent. She was often seen in local parades playing the piano and singing from the back of a pickup truck. Donna was also a member of a swing band, (The Swingsters) that traveled around the upper Peninsula.
Later on, as her life progressed, and as dementia began to invade her mind and steal her ability to remember the words to songs, she still played. While in the memory care unit at Evergreen Assisted Living, she often entertained the residents and staff by playing her piano until she could no longer.
Donna was also a talented baker and she was well known for her wonderful cakes, cookies, pies, bars and breads. She also worked very hard at being a good mother and wife and she was very successful at both. Her home was always filled with music and the aroma of fresh baked treats. In addition to working full time and raising three children, Donna and Ward were active members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church.
Donna was also an active member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization P.E.O. which assisted women to achieve their highest goals and aspirations. She also found time for volunteering for community events and helping anyone who may need it.
She is survived by two sons, Ward Mitchell of Kingsford and Russell Mitchell of Wausau, Wis.; one daughter, Ann Mitchel of Chicago, Ill.; two granddaughters, Kyra Mitchell of Longmont, Colo., and Lindsey Mitchell of Kerrville, Tex.; one great grandson, SJ.; one brother-in-law, Jim Pericolosi; nephews Mike Lindahl and Perry Peterson; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ward, a sister, Betty Peterson and a brother, Warren Lindahl.
Donna was well known for her kind and gentle soul and she will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who were fortunate to know her.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. A celebration of life will take place on Thursday, at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Paul Strom will officiate. Burial will take place in Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, Mich.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Donna’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Donna’s legacy of life.
She was born on May 30, 1930 to Gustaf and Josephine (Larson) Lindahl in Gladstone, Michigan. She was a 1948 graduate of Gladstone High School. One summer day while attending a picnic Donna met a man Ward Mitchell from Iron Mountain who she ended up marrying. Ward and Donna were married on April 21, 1956 in Gladstone. They soon after moved to the Iron Mountain-Kingsford area where they spent the remainder of their lives raising their family.
Donna initially worked for Town and Country Ford in Kingsford and later went on to retire from the Dickinson-Iron Intermediate School District as an administrative assistant. After her retirement Ward and Donna had the opportunity to travel throughout parts of the United States and parts of Canada to include a few trips to Alaska to spend some time with their son Ward.
Donna was blessed with exceptional musical talent, both vocal and instrumental. She had a wonderful singing voice and she also played the piano, organ and accordion. Donna began playing the piano when she was 4 years old and continued with music for the rest of her life. Even as a young girl she loved to share her talent. She was often seen in local parades playing the piano and singing from the back of a pickup truck. Donna was also a member of a swing band, (The Swingsters) that traveled around the upper Peninsula.
Later on, as her life progressed, and as dementia began to invade her mind and steal her ability to remember the words to songs, she still played. While in the memory care unit at Evergreen Assisted Living, she often entertained the residents and staff by playing her piano until she could no longer.
Donna was also a talented baker and she was well known for her wonderful cakes, cookies, pies, bars and breads. She also worked very hard at being a good mother and wife and she was very successful at both. Her home was always filled with music and the aroma of fresh baked treats. In addition to working full time and raising three children, Donna and Ward were active members of Our Saviors Lutheran Church.
Donna was also an active member of the Philanthropic Educational Organization P.E.O. which assisted women to achieve their highest goals and aspirations. She also found time for volunteering for community events and helping anyone who may need it.
She is survived by two sons, Ward Mitchell of Kingsford and Russell Mitchell of Wausau, Wis.; one daughter, Ann Mitchel of Chicago, Ill.; two granddaughters, Kyra Mitchell of Longmont, Colo., and Lindsey Mitchell of Kerrville, Tex.; one great grandson, SJ.; one brother-in-law, Jim Pericolosi; nephews Mike Lindahl and Perry Peterson; and many nieces and nephews whom she loved dearly.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Ward, a sister, Betty Peterson and a brother, Warren Lindahl.
Donna was well known for her kind and gentle soul and she will be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all who were fortunate to know her.
Visitation will be Thursday, March 19, 2020 from 11:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at the Jacobs Funeral Home, Iron Mountain, Mich. A celebration of life will take place on Thursday, at 12:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Pastor Paul Strom will officiate. Burial will take place in Cemetery Park, Iron Mountain, Mich.
You may leave a condolence or tribute for Donna’s family online at www.JacobsFuneralHomes.com.
The family has chosen the Jacobs Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Iron Mountain, Mich., to honor Donna’s legacy of life.