H. Duane Mitchell

H. Duane Mitchell, 96, entered into eternal rest on January 9, 2026. Born in Sacramento, California on July 12, 1929 to Harvey W. and Pearl Mitchell, Duane spent his childhood in Sacramento showing a keen interest in building and creating things starting with a boxcar. As a young man he attended Sacramento State College preferring technical courses that led him to a career in engineering. He enlisted in the Air Force and then the Army and served his country fighting overseas in the Korean War. While stationed in Michigan, he met and married Ann Osterman where they soon began a family. After being honorably discharged as a Corporal, they moved to Sacramento continuing to add to the family with three more children. Duane started work at Aerojet General and enjoyed the Sacramento life learning to scuba dive and honing his building skills building a 28' boat that would bring he and his family joy for many years. Aerojet general built and produced missile engines and as NASA began the Race to Space, Aerojet General offered Duane a job in Cape Canaveral Florida to join in what he later described as a "once in a lifetime opportunity". When his NASA days peaked with Apollo 11 and landing the first man on the moon in 1970, Duane moved his family to Tallahassee Florida for his next chapter. Newly employed by the State of Florida, he continued to find new ways to enjoy the water taking the family snorkeling on the Wakulla river, tubing on the Ichetuckne river, and scuba diving offshore. Skilled at many things, Duane scuba dived in the Wakulla River uncovering numerous arrowheads, a native hand painted bowl and significant remains of a Mastodon including a molar and some tusk, all of which was donated to the Tallahassee Museum.

In 1975 Duane married Margaret Mitchell adding to the family her daughter Sherry, and her husband Gary. Margaret also enjoyed his passion for the water which they enjoyed for many years. They traveled often to their St. Simon's Island getaway later relocating to a new place in Panacea, Fl. Family was always welcome, children and grand children came to swim in the pool, visit and enjoy a family dinner at Angelo's afterwards. Throughout the years they traveled to California visiting Duane's family in Sacramento with side trips to San Francisco and Las Vegas. They also enjoyed making time to visit friends and family in Germany at Christmas and as Christians, they made a pilgrimage to The Holy Land, Israel. He made a profession of faith at his Methodist church describing how he came to believe in God's salvation through Jesus Christ.

In his retirement, Duane was a member of the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association) and used his engineering skills to build ultra light kit planes as well as flying them to "Fly In's" meeting other enthusiasts to see what they were building. Also an avid member of the NRA, Duane enjoyed target practice and attending gun shows in his spare time.

Following Margaret's passing in 2017, Duane moved to The Grove at Canopy Senior Community with his beloved companion Sophie, a teacup Yorkie, and began a new chapter of making friends and enjoying life at a slower pace. There he made many new friends he grew to know and appreciate and Sophie quickly became the darling of the community. He enjoyed getting out and about for gun shows, art classes at the Senior Center, trips to St Marks, Merritt Island (Cape Canaveral) and as always, family dinners at local restaurants.

He is survived by his five children: Joseph Mitchell (Ann), Patricia Mitchell Ramsey (Lake, deceased) , Carol Mitchell Kaye (Patrick), Mike Mitchell (Cindy Beagle )and his stepdaughter Sherry Walker (Gary Bryant), as wells as too many beloved nieces, nephews, grandchildren and great grandchildren to name.

Niki Carney of Bevis Funeral Home (www.bevisfh.com or 850-385-2193) is assisting the Mitchell family with their arrangements.