CALVIN G. MITCHELL JR

On December 20th, 2022, Calvin G. Mitchell, Jr. took his final journey to the God he believed in and trusted. He fought Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia for more than 15 years. Cal was born on October 9, 1952, to Calvin G. Mitchell, Sr. and Rita (Pitz) (Mitchell) Spagl. He spent his elementary school years at St. Peter’s in Hokah and graduated from La Crescent High School with the class of 1971. Cal was united in marriage to Joan Holzwarth on August 4, 1973. We almost made it to 50 years. Cal’s life work began at the Hokah Cheese Factory and continued at Al’s Concrete, Milwaukee Road Railroad, Gateway Foods (Fleming, Scrivner) for 25 years, with retirement after 10 years at UWL keeping the Wing Technology Center sparkling. He had many good friends from throughout his work life. Early in our life together, while living in Brownsville, Cal began running and riding his bike long distances. He completed the 1986 and 1987 Twin Cities Marathons, earning a medal for his personal best time in 1987. Cal loved living out on “County 21” where he fed the birds, deer, and turkeys, plowed the snow, rode through the woods on his ATV, and spent time with his family and beloved collies. We were sad to leave our home there, but he was no longer able to enjoy the outdoors and do the things he wanted to do to maintain the property. Those previously enjoyable activities became tasks too difficult. Grandchildren began arriving in 1998 with the most recent addition this past summer. Time spent with them, and his collies were joyful times while living out in the country and here in La Crescent. Cal found peace at our boathouse on Lawrence Lake in Brownsville. We owned it for 30 years. Lots of good times spent there with family and friends, fishing, taking fish off hooks, and untangling kids’ fishing lines. He put in the work of popping barrels, keeping the weeds down, and the grass mowed. He also did a renovation project with help from his brother and brother-in-law and the kids in the early 90’s. Cal was the epitome of a “good man”. He spent his life working to provide for his family and make a better life for himself and us as we journeyed through life together. The evening before he passed away, we sat for a short time alone together in front of the Christmas tree. He said he thought we were luckier than most to have made the life and family we have. We were the luckiest to have had him. In the 1990s we hosted many exchange students from Germany, many of whom remain close to our hearts. Henning Schaloske arrived the evening before Cal passed and was with us as we surrounded Cal with love in his final hours. Thank you to Ben, for being with us during those last hours and our friend, Matt. It was a difficult time made a bit easier because you were here with us. Thank you to Gunderson’s Hematology/Oncology and Hospice teams. Dr. Bhaskar was Cal’s primary oncology doctor for most of his years of treatment. He was a trusted provider and friend, as was his GP, Dr. Julie Gerig. Hospice nurses Suzy and Kaitlyn were phenomenal. Cal is survived by his wife Joan, daughter Laura (Ryan) Conners, Nathan (Joleen) Mitchell, and Gabriel Mitchell. His grandchildren, Bianca Mitchell (Alex), Evelyn Mitchell, Lillian Mitchell, Devin Conners, Hazel Mitchell, and Theodore Mitchell. He is survived by siblings, Pat (Bob) Matson, Dianne Starch, Mike (Judy) Mitchell, Rita (Terry) Gruntzel, and Ben (Dawn) Spagl, and brother-in-law Larry Langen. He is also survived by Joan’s siblings, John and Janet (Holzwarth) Chamberlain, and John and Julie Holzwarth as well as many nieces and nephews. Cal was preceded in death by his parents, siblings Ricky, Julie, Nancy, and Sandy, mother and father-in-law Eillen and Aaron Holzwarth, and special Aunt, Helen “Honna” Pitz, who Cal helped care for for over 25 years. Funeral mass will be on Saturday, January 7th at 11 a.m. at St. Peter’s Catholic Church in Hokah, MN. Visitation from 9 a.m. until time of mass. Burial will be in the spring. McCormick Funeral Home is assisting the family. Memorials received will be used to help feed children in the surrounding areas via the summer lunch program for kids in the La Crescent/Hokah area, assist with unpaid lunch bills at La Crescent/Hokah Schools, and to St. Peter’s church. You will be loved and missed forever, Cal. Our hearts are broken but we know you are no longer in pain. The service will be livestreamed on McCormick Funeral Service Facebook Page.

CALVIN G. MITCHELL JR

October 9, 1952 - December 20, 2022