Jonathan Mai D. Mitchell
Jonathan Mai D. Mitchell
KINGSFORD — Jonathan Mai D. Mitchell died tragically in a traffic accident on Sept. 4, in Togo, West Africa, while serving with the United States Peace Corps.
Born on Feb. 16, 1993, as Dung Tan Mai in Vietnam, Jon was orphaned at age 3 and adopted in 2000 at the age of 6 by Dr. Daniel and Carol Mitchell. Jon attended Kingsford High School, graduating with the class of 2012. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee in 2016 with a criminal justice degree and began his Peace Corps service in 2017.
Jon loved life and generously gave of his smile, time and friendship. He made a lasting impact on friends and family in Vietnam, the USA and in Togo.
One of his favorite quotes was: “At the end of the day people won’t remember what you said or did, they will remember how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou.
Jon enjoyed fishing, snowboarding, hockey, hiking, backpacking, spending time with family and friends and was always willing to try something new. He was thoughtful, grateful and appreciative of life.
He is survived by his parents, Dan and Carol; seven siblings, Ben (Cyprine) Mitchell of Nairobi, Kenya, Joshua Mitchell of Salt Lake City, Alyssa (Patrick) Gehndyu of Claymont, Del., Danielle (Matthew) Yu of Salt Lake City, Trang (Ross) Neubauer of Iron Mountain, Meeyoom Mitchell of Brasilia, Brazil, and Andrew (Stephanie) Mitchell of Salt Lake City; and six nieces and nephews, Jayden and Zoe Gehndyu, Annabelle, Olivia and Mason Yu, and Addison Neubauer. He is also survived by two grandmothers: Beverley Cuddy of Waynesville, N.C., and Helen Mitchell of Adrian.
In addition, he is mourned by many uncles, aunts and cousins in Vietnam.
He was preceded in death by his Vietnamese birth parents, Mai Tan Choi and Nguyen Thi My.
“So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.” — 2 Corinthians 4:18
We love you. We miss you. We are proud of you.
Visitation will be 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, and 3 to 4 p.m. Friday at the Evangelical Covenant Church in Norway.
Funeral services will be at 4 p.m. Friday at the church. Rev. James Danielson will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Jon Mitchell Memorial Fund, https://www.peacecorps.gov/donate/memorial-funds/jon-mitchell-memorial-fund/, which will support approved Peace Corps Partnership Program (PCPP) projects in Togo.
Condolences may be expressed to the family of Jonathan Mitchell online at www.ernashfuneralhomes.com.
The family has entrusted the Erickson-Rochon & Nash Funeral Home of Iron Mountain with the arrangements.