Ilene Mitchell

Ilene Mae Mitchell was a woman of great compassion and commitment. Her loyalties were to her family, friends, and faith. She held her loved ones in the highest, as both a caring mother and wife as well as a devout Christian woman, consistently living her life in the service of others.

Although the 1930s were a difficult time for Americans with the pressing circumstances of the Great Depression, families continued to grow and remain optimistic for the future. Despite hard times, William Hitzler and Mildred Horner found a reason to celebrate, with the birth of their third daughter, Ilene on January 24, 1932. She joined her older sisters Evelyn and Irene, and enjoyed a playful childhood with them. Ilene's father was a postal carrier and her mother a homemaker, showing the girls how much effort and love it took to keep a family together. Fond memories were spent in her father's iris garden in their back yard, where Ilene had a swing to play on while her father cared for the flowers.

Tragedy would strike the family when Ilene was only seven years old, with the unfortunate death of her father. Such a difficult experience at such a young age made Ilene a stronger person, as she never saw her mother give up. Instead her mother went back to school to become a nurse to support the family, while Ilene's oldest sister, Evelyn, helped care for Irene and Ilene. There were numerous ways in which Ilene learned to take care of herself and others throughout her childhood, which would later lead to her loving spirit as a mother and wife.

As Ilene was growing from a little girl into an intelligent young woman, she met Ancel Mitchell at the Burger Bowl in Kalamazoo, where he was a cook. The two had eyes for each other immediately, and soon were caught up in a loving romance. They were married on June 30, 1949, in their hometown of Kalamazoo, beginning a life of love and warmth together. They soon began growing their family as well, blessed with their children Robert, Linda, David, and Robin. The family often camped on Fish or Gun Lake, creating many great memories together in the warm months of summer

In 1953, the couple decided to dedicate their lives to the Lord, and their love for Christ got them involved in the ministry. Ancel was to take a pastoral position in New Jersey, but instead accepted one in 1967 at Grand Valley Gospel Temple in Grand Rapids. The family then moved up north, living on Winans NW.

As a mother, Ilene never hesitated to sacrifice the things she wanted to see her children happy. She was loving and sweet, making sure they had fun every step of the way. The kids remember many fun outings, including riding on horseback and speeding on dirt bikes. Ilene was an awesome cook, often making swiss steak and fried potatoes. She made the best peanut brittle around and loved to share it with everyone. Her skill even led to the creation of wedding cakes for many of her close friends and family.

She loved dark chocolate and listening to music, with Hal Kennedy being one of her favorites.

Gardening was one of Ilene's favorite things to do, an she grew fruits, vegetables, and flowers. She loved dogs, and wanted to be a breeder. The kids had collies growing up, followed by boxers, her most recent four legged companion, a shih tzu named Missy. She even loved watching dog movies, her favorite being "Molly and Me." Even so, reading the bible was her favorite thing to do. She loved music as well, and sang in church. These were all things that kept her going when she suffered minor strokes as well as breast cancer in 2000. Ilene never gave up.

Another thing she shared with her family was her faith. As her family grew with the addition of so many wonderful grandchildren, she felt even more compelled to share her love of Christ. She was very active at church with being Sunday School Superintendent, participating in Ladies Aux, and helping to plan and decorate for special events. Ancel and Ilene served the church for over 40 years, and never really retired from it. Unfortunately, Ancel died February of 2005. Despite losing her beloved husband, it was her strong belief in God and support from her family that got her through the rest of her years.

When Ilene developed macular degeneration over the last year, it made it hard for her to get out. With the help of her friend Carol Rosser, the two would run errands together, often ending up at Wendy's. The loss of her sight was difficult for her and again it was her faith and the love of her biological and Christian family that kept her going. Unfortunately, Ilene died suddenly on January 10, 2010, at the age of 77. She will be so deeply missed.

Ilene leaves us a legacy of love. She was a humble woman who would give up anything in her life for the happiness and well being of others. She will be remembered for her warmth and generosity, and for her passion for being a mother, wife, and devout Christian.

Ilene was preceded in death by her husband, Ancel L. Mitchell in 2005, and sister Evelyn Haas in 2003. Ilene is survived by her children, Robert (Jean) Mitchell, Linda (John) Stanko, David (Anocia) Mitchell, and Robin Mitchell; grandchildren, Shannon, Robert, Kurtis, Tiffany, David, Kevin, Mitchell, Eric, Jenny, Elijah, and Shasta; great-grandchildren, Sara, Burgess, Chloe, Fia, Madyson, Jason, Jenna. Also surviving is her sister, Irene (Ernie) Lawson; and several nieces and nephews. The Funeral Service will be held at 1PM on Thursday at Grand Valley Gospel Temple, O-3190 Riverhill Dr. NW with Rev. Hugh Tubbs officiating. Friends may visit with the family from 2-4 and 6-8 PM on Wednesday at Heritage Life Story Funeral Homes, 2120 Lake Michigan Drive NW. In lieu of flowers, contributions to Inner City Children's Fund would be appreciated. Please visit www.lifestorynet.com to read her lifestory, archive a memory, photo, or sign the guestbook if you are unable to attend.