William 'Bill' Mitchell

WILLIAM G. "BILL" MITCHELL

Iowa City

William G. "Bill" Mitchell, 84, of Iowa City, passed away at home Sunday, Aug. 7, 2016. Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday at Gay & Ciha Funeral Service in Iowa City. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at St. Mark's United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorials in Bill's name may be directed to the Salvation Army. Online condolences may be shared with his family at www.gayandciha.com.

William Guy "Bill" Mitchell was born March 11, 1932, in Crawfordsville, Iowa, the son of Max and Olive (Herring) Mitchell. He attended Crawfordsville School and graduated in 1949. He attended Washington, Iowa, Junior College after high school and graduated from Iowa State Teachers College in Cedar Falls in 1953. His graduation came at the time of the Korean War and he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Munich, Germany, for 15 months and was able to travel in Europe during that time. He was released from active duty in May 1955. On June 26, 1955, he married the love of his life, Majel "Madge" Arthur, in Ainsworth.

Bill continued his education and received two graduate degrees from the University of Iowa, a Master of Arts in 1960 and a specialist in education in 1967. He started out as a coach and social studies teacher and later became a guidance counselor. Bill's teaching career took them from Volga to Columbus Junction to Fairfield and ended up in Iowa City in 1965. After working at Central Junior High in Iowa City, Bill was a guidance counselor at Iowa City West High School from its opening in 1968 until his retirement from teaching in 1993. After his early retirement from the school system, he worked for 10 years as a seasonal worker at Finkbine Golf Course in Iowa City.

A son, Mark, was born in 1957, followed by a daughter, Judy, in 1958. The family enjoyed annual summer vacations around the United States. After Mark and Judy were on their own, Bill and Madge continued traveling, with three trips to Europe, numerous Hawkeye bowl games, and trips to Canada and Hawaii. Their grandson, Luke, accompanied them on vacations for six years.

Bill belonged to St. Mark's United Methodist Church, Cedar Valley Rock and Mineral Society, Iowa City Genealogical Society, the University of Iowa Alumni Association and National Education Association. He was an avid Hawkeye fan and I-Club member.

He is survived by son, Mark (Jacquelyn) Mitchell of Iowa City; daughter, Judy (Terry) Strackbein of Barboursville, Va.; grandchildren, Luke Mitchell of North Liberty, Sarah Mitchell of Chicago and Emily Mitchell of Cedar Rapids; and brother, Jerry (Patti) Mitchell of Iowa City.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Madge, in 2008; and his parents.