Albert Junior Mitchell, 84, died Saturday, October 15, 2022, in Hill City, Kansas. He was also known as Junior, A.J. or by most of the family as “Mitch."
Mitch was born March 1, 1938, in Summer Hill, Illinois to Albert Henry Mitchell and Ada Stout. They had two children Albert Junior “Mitch” and Beverly. Ada was later married to Linney Brown. Together they raised the two children. They later divorced. Mitch attended East St. Louis High until the eleventh grade and enlisted in the Marines in 1955. His tour of duty found him in Okinawa, Japan, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Sicily, Italy, and Spain.
Following his honorable discharge in 1958, he began working for Monsanto as a chemical mechanic operator. This was the job he would continue for 37 years. In the early 60’s he and Sheila Wohlrab Lankas were married. To this union two children were born: Brian Albert and Barry Joseph. He later married, Joyce Scharringhausen. These two marriages ended in divorce. His last wife, Dee Shephard, proceeded him in death March 17, 2013 after 12 years of marriage. Not only did Mitch live for many years just south of St. Louis, but his sister Beverly Brown Butler and her husband Homer Butler were only a few miles away. He so enjoyed spending quality time with them. They both proceeded him death.
Mitch was a collector. Be it hats, coffee cups, or coins for his great grandchildren. But his love of cars was astounding. Mitch LOVED cars. His favorites however were the 1956 and 1957 Chevys. His first car was a 1929 Chevy he purchased along with two buddies when he was 15 years old. Too young to have a driver’s license, he drove it up and down the alley with those wooden spoke wheels. His obsession with cars was not his passing hobby but a lifetime of wonderful memories. In 1959, he became a member of the Piston Pushers Car Club and was the first lifetime member. He also joined many other car clubs in the Illinois and Missouri area. Mitch lived near the Belleville, Illinois, and Imperial/Pevely, Missouri areas for 84 years. Of course, enjoying collecting cars and attending car shows and he treasured the times just being with friends and family. This past March, he moved to Hill City, Kansas to be closer to his son Brian and his family.
Mitch will be sadly missed by his son Brian Mitchell and his wife Kay of Hill City, and his grandchildren: Taylor Vap and wife Audrey; Dylan Vap and wife Amanda, all of Atwood; great grandchildren: Kaceton, Oakleigh, Chesney, Landrik and Daya Pearl, all of Atwood; his son Barry of Missouri; niece Traci Wingerter and husband David; their children: Aimee, Allison (Eddie) and children: Bentley and Mavis Clark, and Adam; niece Kim Schweizer and children Andrew and Austin Whaley of the Hillsboro, Missouri area.
A come and go reception to celebrate Mitch's life will be held Sunday, October 23, 2022, from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the home of Brian and Kay Mitchell, 716 N. 6th Ave., Hill City, Kansas.