Leonard Bradley Mitchell

Leonard Bradley Mitchell, our beloved “Papa”, passed away on November 21, 2014 after a long, hard fought battle with pneumonia, surrounded by loved ones. Len was born in Cedar Rapids, IA on October 4, 1941. He was the oldest son of Dick and Eleanor (Lahti) Mitchell. While still a baby, the family moved to Rockford, IL, where his brother, Ronnie, was born. The two were inseparable, growing up together on acreage far from town. They lived in an old, converted grain storage building, while building their family home. The boys were very active and had many interests, including baseball, basketball, hunting and fishing. They had to walk to and from school, often getting home after 7 o’clock in the evening, because they loved to participate in after school sports. Len has always loved animals. Growing up, he always had several pets, domestic and exotic. Along with the usual cats and dogs, Len had an ocelot and a pet bear that his family rescued when hunters shot its mother. When the bear got too old, it was donated to a zoo, which he visited when he could. Later in life, he had a raccoon, chipmunks and a ferret along with more dogs and cats, his last one named Precious. Len knew tragedy early in life, losing his brother in a car accident, when his brother was only 16 years old. It occurred within sight of their house and forever changed his family. After graduating from Winnebago High School in 1959, he went on to Rockford College and graduated there in 1963 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. Len majored in Mathematics and minored in Physics. Continuing his education, he attended the University of Illinois and graduated from there in 1965 with a Bachelor of Science in Mechanical Engineering. This led to his career in the natural gas field. He designed, built and maintained natural gas lines throughout Illinois, until moving, in 1970, with his growing family to Spokane, where he continued his work in the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas for Washington Water Power, now Avista. In 1966, Len married the love of his life and soul mate, Jeanette Lobb. Their fathers met on a fishing trip in northern Canada, eventually introducing their children and creating a match made in heaven. They were married for 48 wonderful, crazy years. They were truly the best of friends. Their marriage produced three children, Teresa (husband Ernie), Christine (husband Dave) and Dale (fiancée Brandi). In 1991, Len suffered a severe stroke, which he survived through a miracle, but forced his retirement from Avista. In his newfound free time, he was able to focus more on his hobbies again, which included oil paining and woodcarving. He loved tinkering around in his workshop, watching baseball games and enjoying his diet Pepsi. He had a wonderful sense of humor, which he could deliver with a straight face, leaving one wondering if he was serious or joking. It was around this time that the grandchildren started rolling in, led by Stephanie, his “princess.” Followed in a few years by Tony, his first grandson. Then a succession of boys rolled in, all about six months apart, Dale Jr., Tyler and Alex. One more granddaughter, Elizabeth arrived few years later and finally the youngest Drake. He loved his grandchildren and was so proud of all of them. His family was the most important thing in his life. In addition to immediate family, Len leaves behind a beloved Aunt Nancy, cousins, sister-in-laws, nieces and nephews spread around the world. He has many loving arms welcoming in heaven, including his brother, Ronnie, his father, Dick, and his mother, Eleanor. Len was an angel here on earth and now is our guardian angel in heaven. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the American Diabetes Association and Peace Lutheran Church in Otis Orchards, WA. A service will be held on the 29th of November at Peace Lutheran Church at 1 p.m.