Harold Mitchell Obituary

Reverend Harold R. Mitchell

Resident of Cupertino

Joined his Lord and the choir of angels as he was peacefully lifted to his eternal home on August 20, 2010 at the age of 89.

Harold was born in New London, WI, on June 22, 1921 to Charles and Anna Mitchell. He was active in church and enjoyed many gatherings of family and friends. It was at a family gathering that he met the love of his life Glendola Tyrrell, his best friend's cousin. The relationship blossomed and they married on Thanksgiving Day, November 25, 1943. They were married 65 years until Glendola's passing on September 1, 2009.

Harold volunteered and was accepted into the Army Air Corp. He served his country during WW II in the South Pacific and was a decorated 1st Lieutenant and an award-winning bombardier flying in the B-29 Superfortress.

Following his discharge from the military, Harold joined Aid Association for Lutherans and was a very successful insurance agent. However, he could not shake the unrelenting tug of God calling him into the ministry. He and Glendola, along with their two children, moved to Springfield, IL to begin five years of education at Concordia Theological Seminary.

Harold was ordained as a Lutheran pastor on October 30, 1955 at Grace Lutheran Church in Crescent City, CA, where he served the congregation for five years. In 1960, he and Glendola, now with four children, moved to Ewa Beach, Oahu, HI where he served his parish at Messiah Lutheran Church for five years. In 1965, they moved to Sunnyvale, CA where he served at St. Luke Lutheran Church until his retirement in 1985. In 1990, he came out of retirement and began serving as the visitation pastor at St. Timothy's Lutheran Church in San Jose, CA. He completed his ministry there and finally retired in 2005. In June 1998, he was granted title of Pastor Emeritus of St. Luke Lutheran Church having served 20 years as senior pastor. In September 1998, the Education Building on St. Luke's campus was named and dedicated in his honor.

Music filled his entire life as he sang in many choirs, including a barbershop quartet, and for solo performances. He ended many of his sermons with a song. His love for music was passed on to his family.

His 3 children, 10 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren, and numerous nieces and nephews around the country survive him.

A Celebration of the Life of Reverend Harold R. Mitchell will be presented at 11 AM on Saturday, September 4, 2010 at St. Luke Lutheran Church in Sunnyvale. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that memorials be made to St. Luke Lutheran Church in memory of Reverend Harold R. Mitchell.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by San Jose Mercury News/San Mateo County Times on Aug. 26, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Harold Mitchell

3 Entries

September 9, 2010

Becky, Claudia and Paul,
This is how we remember you from your first days in Hawaii. We remember your mother as a fine, gentle lady and a very good artist. She was so creative and she used her creativity for so much good for Messiah and its people. We shall never forget your father. He was our first Pastor and took on the job with great ability and faith. He taught us well and was not only our pastor, but our friend and confidant. We will always remember his teachings and his advice. We also miss your sister, Mary Chris, She helped me so much with that confounded organ. Becky, do you remember when she played the foot pedals while I played the keyboard! Fun! Well, believe it or not, I am still playing the keyboard/piano and for a contemporary service. You can teach old dogs new tricks! Blessings to all of you and be comforted that you will see all your loved ones again. So will we, thanks in part to your Dad
Love you all,
Jan and Andy Anderson

Becky Smith

September 4, 2010

Today, Dad, people who knew you will come together and share their memories of your life. One of my favorite memories is when you would tell me how on the day I was born I had so much hair that the nurses called me an "American Beauty". You always told me I had my mother's beauty and for an awkward girl of 5'10" with big feet that gave me a reason to "stand up proud". I am most grateful that you introduced me to Jesus Who would become my Savior. You preached to a lot of people but your little brown-eyed daughter has her sins forgiven and a home in heaven because her daddy spoke of Jesus. I will always remember the Christmas season we sang Handel's Messiah with the Honolulu Symphony Choir in Hawaii. Thank you for encouraging me to use the voice God gave me for singing to Him. I loved going to Easter sunrise services with you knowing you would preach that Jesus Christ was risen from the dead. I remember being so scared when Mary Chris took off for college and you told me I would have to be the church organist. Little did I know then that my life-long love of playing the organ would become the way I still worship and praise God today. Everytime I play and hear your favorite song "Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring" I will thank God for a dad who told me about Jesus. Your voice is now silent but I will go on and tell others that Jesus saves. I love you Dad. Thank you for taking time to make special memories with me. Becky Jayne

August 28, 2010

I never met you in person but Messiah Lutheran Church in Ewa Beach, Hawaii is celebrating their 50th anniversary tomorrow, August 29th and I was asked to be the historian and write a history of the church. Pastor Mitchell was the first pastor of the church here and we recently received information that he had gone to his Savior. He will be remembered in our anniversary service and I would like to mail you the church history. My name is Gerry Willing and my email is [email protected]. I hope to hear from you with your address that I can send it to. God bless you all. Mahalo for his service to God.

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