Funeral Services for Gordon "Mitch" Mitchell, age 82, of O'Neill, NE will be 10:30 AM Tuesday, October 2, 2018, at the Faith Community Church in O'Neill. Rev. Paul Harder will officiate. Military Honors conducted by O'Neill American Legion Simonson Post #93 will follow at the church. Burial will be 3 PM Tuesday at the Mount Hope Cemetery in Scotia, NE. Visitation will be on Monday from 5-8 PM at Biglin's Mortuary in O'Neill with a Prayer Service at 7PM. Gordon passed away on Friday, September 28, 2018 at his home. Memorials may be directed to the Make-A-Wish Nebraska.

Gordon W. Mitchell was born on April 15, 1936 in Scotia, Nebraska to Jack and Lois (Alexander) Mitchell. Gordon tragically lost his father when he was two years old. At the age of five his mother married Harry Hatfield, and together they raised Gordon.

Gordon was a graduate of Spalding High School. Immediately after graduation, at age 17, he went to work for Northwestern Bell Telephone in Lexington, Nebraska. He hitchhiked back and forth from Spalding to Lexington for work until he'd earned enough money to buy a car. His telephone career spanned 41 years, retiring from the same company, but then known as U.S. West Communications. He interrupted working for the telephone company to serve in the U.S. Army from 1958-1960, receiving his honorable discharge in 1964 after serving in the army reserves. Gordon met the love of his life, Janice Palmer, while he lived in Lexington. It was a blind date on New Year's Eve 1957. Gordon was a loving devoted husband and a dedicated provider for and teacher to his children. He taught them the value of honesty, integrity, education and hard work. Throughout his life, he maintained quiet consistent love for all of his family including his grandchildren who he took tremendous pride in. Because of his belief in the importance of education for children, he served several terms as a member of the O'Neill Public School Board of Education. Through the many challenges presented during his years of service he never lost sight of the ultimate goal, providing quality education for children. Gordon loved baseball. He was a Yankees fan, despite the fact that his great-uncle Grover Cleveland Alexander was a pitcher for the Cubs, Phillies and Cardinals. Gordon was proud to share Grover's legacy of pitching for the Cardinals when they won the 1926 World Series, but he still wore a Yankees t-shirt to family reunions just to spar with his aunt over the sport. He enjoyed many years of hunting, (pheasants, ducks, deer and elk). He shared this passion with his son and grandson. His greatest pastime and pleasure in retirement was golf. He loved golfing and was a member of the O'Neill Country Club where you could find him every Tuesday golfing in league with his buddies. He taught himself golf club repair and actually made custom-fit sets of clubs for people. Gordon had an ornery sense of humor. At times he was a man of few words, and at other times had a lot to say, depending on the topic. He was a devoted Christian with a strong personal faith in God. It goes without saying, he will be forever missed by his family. There are no words adequate to express their sense of loss. They would like to thank you for your friendship, love and support.

He is survived by his wife of 59 years Janice M. Mitchell; sons, Stuart Mitchell of Lincoln, NE, Bruce Mitchell and wife Lesa of Norfolk, NE; daughter, Audra Mitchell of Overland Park, KS; granddaughters, Layne Mitchell of Norfolk, NE, Reagan Mitchell of Overland Park, KS and grandson, AJ Mitchell of Norfolk, NE.

He was preceded in death by his father, John "Jack" Mitchell, mother, Lois Hatfield, step dad, Harry Hatfield, and sister Aura Bea Mitchell.