Tuesday, July 7th, 2020
Kerry Mitchell
Kerry Lee Mitchell, age 64, passed away surrounded by family and fireworks on July 4th, 2020.
Kerry always said, as he was raising his children, "let them have fun." He lived his life by example.
Road trips across the country with his wife of 44 years, Jackie (Reineke) led to a house full of antique cookie jars, lotto tickets from every state and a fantastic collection of memories.
He raised four beautiful children, Holly (Chris) Gray, Erin Marie Mitchell, Bradford (Jill) Mitchell, and Thomas (Gayle) Mitchell, on a diet of kindness, compassion, hard work and rock 'n' roll. He was generous to a fault, smart as a whip and could pay an insult without you even knowing. He was a champion napper and his three grandchildren, Penny Ann, Henry Lee and Andrew loved to cuddle up with him.
Kerry was a sharp dresser who loved to brag about his beautiful blue eyes and gorgeous head of hair. Voted best legs at Fostoria High School, class of 1973, he proudly showed them off whenever there was a dance floor available.
Kerry had a true love for the game of golf and was an active member of the Mercer County B.P.O. Elks Golf Course where he was a past Exalted Ruler (Grand Poobah). He was also a member of the BCA Pool League.
He attended Findlay University where he played basketball and tennis. He carried a love for both sports throughout his life and coached CYO basketball for his children.
He owned Reineke-Mitchell Ford, Lincoln, Mercury in Celina and was a retired partner from the Reineke Family Dealerships. He was an active member of Celina Rotary Club, Immaculate Conception Church, and the Celina International Association.
Kerry was born on July 10, 1955 to Ralph Mitchell and the late Donna (Earlie) Rice. He will be greatly missed by his father and step-mother Ralph (Beverly) Mitchell, step-father Gene Rice, his siblings: Dale (Kathy) Mitchell, Trina (Tony) Case, Kent (Vanessa) Keller and Mitch (Marge) Mitchell and an abundance of extended family and friends.
He took with him the world's best BBQ sauce recipe. If anyone has it, please reach out to the family.
His family will receive condolences on Thursday, July 9, 2020 from Noon until 5:00 PM at the Gilberg-Hartwig Funeral Home in New Bremen. Following the calling hours there will be a reception to celebrate Kerry's life at the Mercer County Elks Golf Course (3242 U.S. 127, Celina, OH 45822).
In lieu of flowers or gifts, the family encourages memorial contributions to The Kerry Mitchell Memorial Fund, in care of the Mercer County Civic Foundation - mercercountycivicfdn.org.
Condolences to the family can be left online at www.gilberghartwigfh.com.
