Einck, Mitchell

Mitchell Einck, 26, of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, formerly of Waukon, Iowa, died Sunday, Sept. 16, 2012, at University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics in Iowa City, Iowa. Funeral services will be held Friday, Sept. 21, at 11 a.m. at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Waukon with Fr. Joseph Schneider officiating. Burial will be at Mount Olivet Cemetery, Waukon. Friends may call from 3 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Martin Funeral Home in Waukon where there will be a 3 p.m. Scripture service. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be given to the Mitchell Einck Scholarship Fund.

Mitchell Lee Einck was born on Jan. 17, 1986, in Decorah, Iowa, to David and Nancy (Hackman) Einck. He grew up on the family dairy farm north of Waukon. Mitch always loved living on the farm and was planning to return there next spring to work with his dad. Mitch attended St. Patrick Elementary and graduated from Waukon High School in 2004. He attended Upper Iowa University in Fayette, Iowa, and Loras College in Dubuque, Iowa, where he played tight end on the football teams as a three-year starter. In 2008, he received his BA in sports management from Loras. Mitch was currently working as a sales representative for Voss Distribution in North Liberty, Iowa.

Mitch was an accomplished athlete while in high school where he was involved in football, basketball, and track. A highlight of his senior year was being a member of the Waukon District Champion football team, which also was the first Waukon football team to qualify for the state playoffs. That same year he was a member of the 1st Team All Conference and 2nd Team All-State football team, and was selected as his team's Most Valuable Offensive Player. In basketball, he made 2nd Team All Conference; in track, Mitch qualified for State Track Meet in discus.

Mitch was an avid sports fan, especially the Iowa Hawkeyes. He was a self-proclaimed “movie buff”, and loved going home to work on the farm. Known for his good sense of humor and happy disposition, Mitch liked to make his friends laugh and always had time to visit with them. Mostly, he enjoyed spending time with family and loved playing with his nephew Luke and godson Ben.

Mitch is survived by his parents, Dave and Nancy Einck of Waukon; brother, Nathan (Debra) Einck of Seattle, Wash.; sister, Tiffany (Sean) Merrick of Coralville, Iowa, and their children, Luke and Benjamin; brother, Bryan (Kate) Einck of Chicago, Ill.; paternal grandmother, Rosaria Einck of Festina, Iowa; maternal grandparents, Paul and Betty Hackman of Calmar, Iowa; girlfriend, Kolbi Moore of Coralville, Iowa; and many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Norbert Einck; and two uncles, James Hackman and Don Sacquitne.

Honorary casketbearers are Mitch's cousins. Casketbearers are Shawn Cunningham, Cole Welch, Dane Regan, Cody Stillwell, Adam Martin, Justin Bakke, Tyler Bruening, and Kevin Geary.

Online condolences may be left at .

Published Sept. 19, 2012 in The Gazette