Lou Ella Mitchell

Lou Ella Mitchell, 89, of Sioux City passed away Thursday, Jan. 10, 2008, at her residence following a battle with colon cancer.

Memorial services will be 11 a.m. Saturday, January 12, 2008, at First United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Roger Madden officiating. Burial will be in Memorial Park Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel.

Lou was born Nov. 24, 1918, in Skidmore, Mo., the daughter of Carl A. and Ethel (Smith) Turpin. She attended Northwest Missouri State University.

She married David F. Mitchell in 1939, in St. Joseph, Mo. The couple resided in St. Joseph from 1940 to 1950. They then moved to Sioux City. She was a teacher in a Missouri one-room schoolhouse and upon moving to Sioux City taught piano for 40 years.

She was a member of First United Methodist Church, a youth counselor, worship committee, couple club and adult discussion class. She was a board member of the Sioux City Museum, the Sioux City Youth Symphony and Terrace Hill Society (preservation and care of Iowa Governor's Mansion). She was a volunteer for the St. Luke's Regional Medical Center. She also was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood and the Sioux City Symphony Orchestra Guild. She was the 1997 recipient of the President's Award from the board of Sioux City Public Museum and Historical Society.

Survivors include her husband, David F. Mitchell of Sioux City; two sons, H.D. Mitchell and his wife, Beth of Downers Grove, Ill., and John Mitchell of St. Louis Park, Minn.; two grandsons, Steve Mitchell and his wife, Dana of Downers Grove, Ill., and Brett Mitchell of St. Louis Park, Minn.; and a great-granddaughter, Violet Mitchell of Downers Grove.

Memorials in her name may be made to Terrace Hill Society, Sioux City Youth Symphony and the Sioux City Museum.