Nick Mitchell Obituary

Missing you and mom every day

Miss you everyday dad......Love, Steph

He was the one I went to at Taft when my sister died. He was always a friend and a guiding hand when I needed a boost without any request. I just wish I has a chance to tell him that thru the years I have thought of him when times were bad. It always picked up my spirits

Mitchell Family:
We have fond memories of Nick and your family thru celebrations over the years, Josh's games and time spent with our neighbor and close friend Tina Lea.

We have you in our thoughts and prayers.

Writing on behalf of my mom (Evelyn gard) and myself. Evelyn extends her sympathies to the family and wishes she could have come to the memorial. She was thinking of Nick a lot this weekend and all of the good times had together. Nick and Gwen were very special friends for her. We are thankful for the time we shared with them. All our love to you.

In loving memory of a one-of-a-kind human being and great friend. I am forever grateful for having known you. Your friendship, support, sense of humor and all of your amazing qualities have had a profound affect on so many lives. I truly am blessed to be one of those so fortunate to have had you as a part of my life.

My Letter to My Dad : Dearest Daddy, I will forever cherish the letter you left me. I didnt know you called me 'Keppy Doopy' when I was first lifting my head shortly after I was born. But I always knew you were proud of me because you never held back your expressions of love or pride. I want to honor you by keeping up your Michigan garden and all it's plants and flowers but I just dont know if I can. I want to, and I will try, but I am worried I won't do it as good as you have. Your garden is so grand and so beautiful with no weeds or sticks. It was grown and tended to with such genuine love and committment. It is truly a living breathing legacy for how you lived your life: planting, nurturing, weeding and forever watering (with that damn sprinkler set up.). And even when flowers in that glorious garden died, you spray painted them neon colors so they might remain beautiful for just a little bit longer. I will spray paint them too, dad. Because just like you, I want things to get the most out of the living things and out of life. People walking by your brightly colored flowers just stopped to admire your garden and wonder about those unusually bright colored flowers. People who came to know you did the same. They would stop and admire you and your life. Just like you lived your life. You were loved and admired by all who simply passed by a few times or those who had the honor of being a true friend. You nurtured the relationships you valued and weeded out those you didn't. (No sense watering and feeding the plants that just wouldn't grow. Not a problem. You just planted another seed and grew a different flower..) We are all stronger because you loved us. You helped us grow, propped us up like those young sprouts or top heavy plants in your garden with a stick and a twisty tie. Your garage is filled with sticks for propping, ties for twisting, tools for clipping , mini-planters and colored rocks for enhancing all the rest. You planned for every garden or life event or illness/ emergency. Just as you you tended to your garden, you took care of your family and friends. You painstakingly raked the beach sand on your knees every spring to rid the beach from random weeds and feral cat poop, and you made sure the boats were in the water by Memorial Day every year when we arrived. I so looked forward to my weekends with you dad from April/ May through September at the lake, and so does Cassie. I'm so sad to think about the next time or next spring and summer without you being there when I go. Cassie will undoubtingly run into your bedroom barking and searching for you,, and I am already stressed out just thinking about how sad it will definitely be the first few times she does. My wish is that my children and grandchildren come to cherish the time at our lake house as much as I do by looking forward to and coming up to see me as often or almost as often as I did you. Even if we did nothing together, it was special just to be with you to laugh, watch our stupid shows together, college football, Cubs game, eat you mac and cheese or just talking about mom and about life. Those were very special times with you I will cherish forever. Your love of your family is what I have learned from you is the most important thing in life. The memories you've created for us like Michigan family or party weekends, stupid jungle cruises, family birthday dinners, Cedar Point trips on Father's Day weekends, our Norwegian cruises, our casino trips, family holidays, Saugatuck pizza trips, and our annual Time Bomb games are among the very best highlights in my life.. I want to keep them up. Very special times! Family, laughter and love!! It is your legacy you left to me to all of us, just as your beautiful garden is on Magician Lake. And just like that miraculous garden you have created from basically nothing, I honor you dad. You were my true friend, my own personal champion, and the very best, most fun-loving dad and daddy a girl could ever have had. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for being there every step of my way. I miss you terribly already. I will do my very best to honor you by living my life as you did yours. All My Love, ( Your 'Poopkie' ) Stephanie. (PS: You and I totally loved the whole spiritual medium idea. So give me sign if it's real okay dad?)

Thoughts and prayers with your family

Nick, from the moment I first met you and Gwen, you warmly welcomed me, Misty, Christian and Jordan as family, with genuine love. You made an immediate impact on me personally, one that I could never fully express with words, one that I can never thank you for enough. You are loved and you will be missed. I'm sorry we were never able to make to the lake house with you and the family.