March 22, 1940 – January 12, 2023
Joseph Robert Mitchell, 82, of Marshall, Mo., passed away Thursday, Jan. 12, 2023, at home surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. Prayer service will be held at 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17, 2023, at St. Peter Catholic Church in Marshall with visitation following until 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2023, at St. Peter Catholic Church. Burial will be at 1 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 19, 2023, at St. Paul Cemetery in Kahoka, Mo.
To celebrate Joe’s life, donations can be made to Marshall Public School Foundation (Elementary Division), St. Peter Catholic School or Fitzgibbon Home Health & Hospice in care of Campbell-Lewis Funeral Home. An online guestbook is available at www.campbell-lewis.com.
Born March 22, 1940, in rural Malta Bend, Mo., he was the son of the late Joseph Rupert and Ella Katheryn (Sims) Mitchell, and was a lifelong resident of Saline County. Joe was a 1958 graduate of Mercy Academy in Marshall, and went on to earn his BS in Secondary Education from Benedictine (formerly St. Benedict’s) College in Atchison, Kan., in 1962. He earned his elementary certification through Missouri Valley College, followed by advanced degrees of Masters in Education (1974) and Education Specialist in School Administration (1985), both from the University of Central Missouri (CMSU) in Warrensburg, Mo.
Joe began his career in education in 1963, teaching at Blackwater 100 in rural Saline County. In 1967, he went on to teach junior high math at Sweet Springs R-7 School, becoming middle school principal, as well as coach football and basketball. Joe was particularly proud to serve as assistant coach for the newly formed Sweet Springs R-7 high school football program. While at Sweet Springs, he met Vicki Sue Acklie, and the two were united in marriage on Jan. 3, 1970, at Columbia United Church of Christ in Columbia, Mo.
Joe continued his career in education with Marshall Public Schools as an elementary principal at Benton, Eastwood and Northwest schools; and Director of Elementary Education. He retired as a full-time administrator in 1996 but continued work part-time as Director of Title I & district Testing Coordinator.
Joe attended St. Peter Catholic Church and was ordained as a permanent Deacon on May 4, 2002. Deacon Joe served St. Peter Church for 20 years and St. Peter School as interim principal. He was a Third Degree Knight of Columbus.
Civic activities include assistant Boy Scout leader for Troop 42, Marshall Parks Board, Marshall Bi-Centennial Committee, school bond committees, Sweet Springs Athletic Hall of Fame committee and working elections. Joe was inducted into the Sweet Springs Athletic Hall of Fame in 2013 and again in 2016 with the 1972 Sweet Springs football team, coach John Johnson and himself. Joe was an avid reader of theology, philosophy, current issues and science fiction. Hobbies included fishing, gardening, home projects, feeding birds, wood carving and all levels of football competition. After retirement, Joe and Vicki renewed friendships with the St. Benedict’s “Gang of 62,” enjoying many reunions and travels together.
Joe is survived by his wife, Vicki; two children, Todd Acklie Mitchell (Carrie) of St. Louis, Mo., and Erin Wynn Madden (Scott) of O’Fallon, Mo.; a sister, Jean Ann Ruhl of Kansas City, Mo.; two grandsons, Christopher Joseph Madden and Owen Patrick Madden, both of O’Fallon; sister-in-law, Cinda James (Terry), brother-in-law, Neal Acklie (PJ), and brother-in-law, Tim Gray, all of Kahoka, Mo. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In addition to his parents, Joe was preceded in death by one brother, Charles Harrison Mitchell; brother-in-law, Michael David Ruhl; sister-in-law, Anita Gray; and niece, Sarah Ruhl Ricci.
