Leroy Mitchell

Lee Mitchell, 84, died on May 1, 2012 of a broken heart.nbsp; He had just recently suffered the loss of Joan, his high school sweetheart and wife of sixty three years.nbsp; They married right out of college, spent a few years out east and then settled in the Chicago area.nbsp; They moved from Mount Prospect to Rockford in 1963, along with their four kids Lynn, Bruce, Ann, and Scott, and the family dog Penny. nbsp;Lee and Joan lived in their Rockford home for fortynine years, always with a dog.

Joan and Lee grew up in the small town of Murphysboro in southern Illinois.nbsp; Lees father was an electrician in a coal mine and later opened his own auto repair shop.nbsp; Of course, young Lee was there helping out and learned early on about engines.nbsp; He could repair nearly anything with some baling wire and duct tape and a few essential tools.nbsp; He learned to love hard work.

Little Lee Mitchell was a local phenomenon as the Drum Major for the Sons of the American Legion Drum and Bugle Corps of Murphysboro.nbsp; He was a very small kid and the crowds were always impressed by this little child in front, twirling his baton.nbsp; The Corps won 1 st in State in August, 1937, just after Lee turned ten, and went on to New York to the National Convention.nbsp; So many memories there.nbsp;

Lee served briefly in the Navy right at the end of WWII and went on to college.nbsp; He was very proud to receive his bachelors degree in Electrical Engineering from Rose Polytechnic, now RoseHulman, nbsp;in Terre Haute, Indiana.nbsp; He then attended night school to earn a law degree while working days fulltime for General Electric.nbsp; He was a selfmade man and often spoke of Joans support during that period, saying he couldnt have done it without her.

Selfadmittedly a stubborn man, Lees persistence, nbsp;determination andnbsp; personal integrity combined with his thirst for knowledge to create a brilliant patent attorney, specializing in electrical inventions.nbsp; He was wellrespected by his partners at Leydig, Voit and Mayer Law Firm.nbsp; Some of his law partnersnbsp; became hunting and fishing buddies as well.

He also was instrumental in the success of Lake Summerset, a lakeside community developed outside of Durand. He was a founding father of that community, serving as its 1 st President, drafting the first very detailed handbooks and bylaws, and providing legal counsel.

Lee loved the great outdoors.nbsp; He fished the rivers and lakes of Illinois his whole life and took his sons out fishing many times.nbsp; He joined up with his friend Vince from the University Club to lease some land on the Mississippi River for a fishing base camp.nbsp; He went on Canadian fishing trips for muskie, walleye, and northern pike;nbsp; goose hunted with brotherinlaw Joe Purcellnbsp; in southern Illinois; andnbsp; took several trips with Bruce to Brazil in search of peacock bass and to Costa Rica for tarpon.nbsp; Give him a small boat with an outboard and a fishing rod and he was a happy man.

In retirement nbsp;Lee and Joan bought a motorhome, packed up the dog, and travelled the country for over 20 years.nbsp; They loved to visit National Parks and other beautiful sites.nbsp; They became part of an RV social community and met up with friends out on the road in Minnesota, Texas,nbsp; Arizona or California. They stopped in Murphysboro to visit Lees sister (and Joans best friend) Jane and brotherinlaw Joe, on their way south for the winter.nbsp; nbsp;Their final motorhome trip was summer 2011 when they drove out to Jackson Hole, Wyoming to meet up with Lynn and Bruce to stay in the Tetons.

Lynn and Bruce are blessed with many wonderful memories of their parents Joan and Lee.nbsp; This is Lees obituary, but we can hardly think of them separately.nbsp; They had, as Lee was fond of saying, a good ride around the MerryGoRound.

Leesnbsp; survivors include son Bruce Mitchell, daughter Lynn (John) Boreen, grandchildren Sarah, Mark, Jeff, Carol, and Kevin, sister Jane Purcell, and nieces and nephews.

Our family would like to thank Gayle from Home Instead for her assistance and friendship.

A time of remembering and celebrating Lees long, full life will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 25, 2012 in Fitzgerald Funeral Home amp; Crematory, Mulford Chapel, 1860 S. Mulford Road with Rev. Edward Seisser nbsp;opening with prayer and reflections. Then we will share stories and invite those attending to do the same.nbsp; Visitation from 10:00 a.m. until time of the service.nbsp; Burial in Calvary Cemetery.

Please no flowers or contributions to the family.nbsp; If you wish, please make a donation to your local humane society or favorite charity.nbsp; Extend condolences and share memories at www.fitzgeraldfh.com