HICKORY, N.C. - Herbert Jack Mitchell, 92, of Hickory, N.C., formerly of Lincoln and Homer, joined loved ones who have gone to heaven before him on Monday, April 15, 2024.
Jack was born on Oct. 14, 1931, in Homer as the youngest son of Charles Mitchell and Clara Belle Gleason Mitchell.
He was brother to Juanita, Leland, Dale, Lamoine and Maxine, who all preceded him, along with three brothers-in-law, Jerry Fisk, James Fisk and Clifford Fisk.
Jack is survived by his beloved wife, Lonita ("Nita") Fisk Mitchell; a son, Timothy (Sheila) Mitchell of Perrysburg, Ohio; a daughter, Cathy (Matt) Parker of Conover, N.C.; four grandchildren, Jamie Naragon, Jeffrey (Connie) Mitchell, Zachary (Christine) Parker and Alexandra "Lexi" (Will) Dawson; five great-grandchildren, Beowulf, Sophia, Ella, Addy and Lucy; three sisters-in-law, Shirley Fisk, Jane Garrett and Terri Fisk; and several very special nieces, nephews, cousins, granddogs and grandcats.
After graduating from Homer High School as Homecoming King in 1949, Jack proudly served four years in the U.S. Navy during the Korean conflict, mostly aboard the USS Okanogan. While home on leave for his father's funeral, Jack met the love of his life, Lonita Fisk. They eloped on April 8, 1955, in Shawneetown and just celebrated their 69th anniversary.
Jack spent his career first as a lineman for Central Illinois Electric and Gas in Homer, then as a dispatcher for Central Illinois Light Company in Lincoln. In July 1966, at the age of 35, Jack was electrocuted when a 7,200-volt wire tipped off his hard hat and touched his head, causing extensive burns and other injuries. After many months of recovery and several surgeries, Jack went back to work for the power company and was transferred to Lincoln, where he worked until his retirement.
After retiring, he enjoyed driving cars for the local Ford dealer for many years. He was also finally able to pursue his lifelong love of flying, obtaining his pilot's license and co-owning a single-engine Cessna for several years. Nita often referred to Jack as one of God's miracles, having survived driving a car that was struck by a train (derailing the train) as a teenager, inexplicably surviving electrocution as a young husband and father, then surviving as a passenger in a twin-engine plane that crash-landed and flipped over in his later years.
Jack met his most formidable challenge when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's in 2012. He was blessed with a very slow progression of this horrible disease until other complications developed over the past year. Jack and Nita relocated to Hickory, N.C., in 2023, to be closer to their daughter, Cathy, and her husband, Matt.
More than anything, Jack loved his family with all his heart. We will be eternally grateful for Jack's ability to both love and be loved, his gentle demeanor, quiet strength, his mischievous smile and infectious sense of humor, taking special pleasure in good-natured teasing, April fool's jokes and notorious love-taps with his cane in his later years. Jack's love of anything chocolate is legendary.
While there is great grief lurking around unexpected corners for all who loved this special man, there is great joy in knowing that he is now reunited with loved ones who have gone ahead, cane-tapping greetings to the angels, until we're one day reunited.
Special thanks to the wonderful staff at Christian Village in Lincoln, Kingston Residence of Hickory, Carolina Caring Hospice and to special caregiver Mary Cranford, as well as to countless family and friends for their unwavering love and support.
There will be a memorial service to honor Jack at 10 a.m. Monday, April 22, at Kingston Residence of Hickory, 904 Second St. NE, Hickory, N.C. Funeral arrangements in Lincoln and graveside services at GAR Cemetery in Homer will be announced at a later date.
Contributions in Jack's honor may be made to First United Methodist Church in Homer, First United Methodist Church in Lincoln, the American Cancer Society or the Alzheimer's Association (act.alz.org/donate), 225 N. Michigan Ave., Floor 17, Chicago, IL 60601.
Condolences may be offered at hickoryfh.com.
As Jack would say, "See ya later, alligator!"
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