James Robert Mitchell

Mitchell, James R. MADISON–On Tuesday, Jan. 20, 2015, James R. Mitchell embarked on one final voyage after a lifetime of traveling that spanned nearly 90 years. Jim’s journeys began in 1925 when he was born in the Town of Sun Prairie, Wis. to George and Sibylle (Burgess) Mitchell. He graduated from Pierceville Grade School, Madison East High School in 1943, and the University of Wisconsin Law School in 1950. Jim’s first chance to see the world came during World War II, when he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and served for thirty months, including a tour of duty overseas as a commissioned officer with the 15th Air Force, stationed in Foggia, Italy. He flew on 35 combat missions as a navigator on B-17 heavy bombers, was awarded a purple heart for injury in the line of duty, and left active service as a first lieutenant. To the end of his life, Jim would look up in happy expectation whenever he heard the sound of an airplane. While in law school, he met Rita Fralish of Berlin, Wis. and on Aug. 28, 1948, they were wed in the rectory of Saint Bernard’s Catholic Church in Madison. They spent the rest of their married life on Madison’s east side, where they raised seven children in a two bedroom house, which they bought new in 1951. After passing the bar exam, Jim took a job with Farmers Mutual, which shortly thereafter became American Family Insurance. His responsibilities in the Claims Department grew along with the size of the company, and when Jim, retired in 1986, exactly 36 years after his start date, he was a senior Claims Auditor. When Jim wasn’t working, he was volunteering. At Bashford United Methodist Church, where he was an active member for 45 years, he served at various times as an usher, money counter, tutor and committee member. Jim also volunteered as PTA treasurer at Schenk Elementary School, where he and Rita diligently attended meetings regularly for many years. Jim and Rita also both active in the local La Follette High School chapter of the AFS international exchange program, and in 1971 they served as host parents for an AFS student from Thailand, Praiwan Boonplerng. Opening up their home for students, however, was nothing new for Jim and Rita. Over the years, they invited out-of-town high school students to stay overnight during the state basketball tournament, they sponsored a boy from Mississippi, Ed Booker, for several summers through Project Understanding, and they welcomed Bhim Nimgade into the family when he arrived in Madison to attend the UW. In his spare time, Jim was an avid sports fan. He took part in golf and bowling leagues for decades. He also enjoyed watching sports, especially baseball, where he was a loyal Giants fan since boyhood. Jim was also an usher at Wisconsin Badger home football games for many years. He loved watching his children participate in sports, and when his boys were in high school he proudly sat in the La Follette bleachers cheering on the wrestling team. But above all, Jim loved traveling. He was never able to go on a vacation trip as a boy, and he spent his adult life making up for that. He and Rita took the family on camping vacations all across the United States, and continued traveling long after retirement. Over the years, he visited all 50 states, seven Canadian Provinces, Mexico, three Central American countries, several island countries in the Caribbean and the Atlantic, three countries in North Africa, 11 countries in Europe and one in Asia (he also liked keeping careful count of his travels). Jim combined his love of traveling with an interest in family history. In 1988 and in 1997, he and Rita traveled to the British Isles, where they found long lost relatives and began a still continuing correspondence. In 2001, Jim self-published his memoirs, and distributed copies to relatives here in America and abroad. He wrote chapters on early memories growing up on the farm, schools he attended, holidays, life in the Army, cars he had owned, and vacations and trips. Jim is survived by Rita, his wife of 66 years; his daughter, Barbara (Steve) Herreid of Rome, Wis.; his sons, Gene (Jarno Arnovich), Bhim Nimgade, Tom, Bill, Robert (Cheryl Jensen), all of Madison, and Steve (Lori Berry-Mitchell) of Beaver Dam. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Ezra of Denver, Jasmine, Nick and Jessica, all of Madison. He is also survived by numerous relatives, including cousins, nephews and nieces. He was predeceased by a son, Patrick in 1969; a sister, Helen in 1915; and a brother, Redfield in 2012. A memorial service with military honors will be held at BASHFORD UNITED METHODIST CHURCH, 329 North Street, Madison, at 11 a.m., on Saturday, Jan. 24, 2015. Friends and relatives may call an hour before the time of service. Burial will be at a future date at the Sun Prairie Cemetery. The family wishes to thank members of the Heritage Center for their support. Memorials may be made to Bashford United Methodist Church, the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, Agrace HospiceCare, or the Alzheimer’s and Dementia Alliance. Online condolences may be made at www.gundersonfh.com. Gunderson East Funeral & Cremation Care 5203 Monona Drive (608)221-5420