Jean Mitchell

Jean passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2008 at Prairie Home Hospice surrounded by her husband and family after a 4½ year battle with Mesothelioma (a cancer caused by asbestos). Jean was born November 30th, 1930 at home in Redwood County, the middle child of Frank and Martha (Louwagie) Welu. She was baptized into the Catholic faith at St. Michaels Catholic Church in Milroy. Jean received her first Holy Communion and was confirmed at St Clotilde Catholic Church in Green Valley. Jean grew up on a farm in rural Marshall and attended grade school in District 75. The family moved to a farm near Amiret and she attended 2 years of high school at Tracy and received her GED in 1969. She later attended classes at SSU obtaining her BA in Sociology in 1977. She married in 1949 and was blessed with 9 children. She was employed by Region VIII North Welfare as a Case Aide and later as a Social Worker until her retirement in 1995 after 26 years of service. In June 1995, she met Erwin (Mitch) Mitchell of Lake Benton on a singles tour to Branson, MO. On June 1st, 1996 they were married and made their home in Marshall. For the past several years they spent their winters in Florida. Jean was a member of Holy Redeemer Catholic Church, Catholic Daughters, Holy Redeemer Ladies Guild, and was a Hospital Communion distributor. She taught 1st grade Religion classes for 10 years and was a former Cub Scout leader. She loved writing short stories and poetry, dancing, working with crafts, traveling, collecting elephants and beanie babies and she made wedding cakes for 35 years. She especially enjoyed spending time with her children and grandchildren. Jean is survived by her husband Mitch, sons; Ronald Moon of Marshall, Garry (Kelly) Moon of Las Vegas, Marlo (Deb) Moon of Cottonwood and Michael (Debra) Moon of Marshall. Daughters; Jolene Moon of Omaha, Karen Moon of Marshall, Robin (Jerry) Traen of Minneota, and Stacey (Brett) Eytchison of Sioux Falls, 27 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren. She is also survived by sisters: Kathryn Hauschild of Marshall and Kathleen (Matt) Thielges of Canby, and brothers; David (Lucille) Welu of Cherry Valley IL, Donald (Cheryl) Welu of Marshall, and brother- in-law Luverne Thielges of Canby. Jean was preceded in death by her daughter Lanette Moon, grandson Andrew Moon, her parents, sister Doris Thielges, and brother Edward Welu. Jean will be remembered as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, great grandmother, sister, aunt and friend. She will be sadly missed. Blessed be the memory of Jean Mitchell. Memorials are preferred to Prairie Home Hospice.