Richard Mitchell

Richard "Karl" Mitchell

Richard "Karl" Mitchell - that would be "Karl with a K - it sounds better" he liked to say - left us suddenly Friday, July 19, 2013. Visitation will be held from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at Osborn Funeral Home. A funeral mass will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 23, at St. Joseph Church. Officiating will be Father Peter Mangum, Father Karl Daigle and Father Thomas Elavunkal will con-celebrate. Graveside services will follow at Forest Park Cemetery - East.

Karl was born in Baltimore, Maryland on September 4, 1964, and was a resident of Shreveport for 25 years. He was a Citadel man, graduating from the Military College of South Carolina in 1986. He was a member of St. Joseph Parish.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother, Thomas and Carolyn Mitchell, his brother Bobby, and his nephews Joel Mitchell and Adam Stroumpos. He is survived by his wife of 25 loving years, Ourania Mitchell, two sons, Brooks Karl Mitchell and Ian Reese Mitchell, one daughter, Valentina Mary Mitchell; sisters, Michelle Montgomery and husband, Steve, Dolores Slater and husband, Matthew; brother, Stephen Mitchell and wife, Robin; brothers-in-law, George Stroumpos and wife, Theresa, Robert Stroumpos, Jim Zepp and wife, Elizabeth, Bo Craven and wife, Kim; sister-in-law, Diane Frieberger and husband, Ernst. He was fun Uncle Karl to nephews, Jordan, Brigham, Vitus, Lenny, and Riley, and nieces, Beth, Kelsey, Shelby, Alex, Zoe, Toula, Georgia, Cecilia, Gracie, Lindsay, and Olivia. His parents-in-law, Hannelore and Louie Craven, and Johnnie and Paula Stroumpos loved him as a son. Whenever the family chips were down, someone would invariably come up with "But we have Karl!" He is also survived by his beloved dog, Phoebe, "The Wonder-lab".

Pallbearers will be his beloved sons Brooks and Ian, his brother Stephen Mitchell, and dear friends Archer Frierson, Michael Pabst, and Don Friday.

Coach's passion was lacrosse. His passing brings heavy hearts to all those who knew him, lightened by the knowledge that his legacy will be carried on by the young men he helped mold into warriors. As a coach, he challenged his players to be the best they could be; as teammates, students, sons and as individuals. He would say, "You are all unique, just like everyone else." He never asked anyone to do more than they were capable of, always finding ways to motivate his players, and those around him, to realize they were capable of more than they thought. He lived the lessons that the game of lacrosse had taught him - to honor the Creator and to train warriors, and shared these lessons with us all. He challenged us to be strong mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually. Coach Mitchell only asked three things: "Show up on time ready to play; pay attention and ask questions; and, always hustle and never give up."

Coach was responsible for introducing the game of lacrosse to Northwest Louisiana. In 1995 he was the coach for the St. Paul's club team that played the first high school lacrosse game in Shreveport. A few years after that he helped Loyola start their team and in 2001 started the Byrd Lacrosse program. Karl Mitchell was always looking for ways to give back to the game that had given him so much. In 2011, when one of his former players, Rob Reeves, a member of Seal Team 6, was killed in Afghanistan, Karl set in motion the One Team-One Fight lacrosse tournament to honor our fallen warriors. Today we must find a way to honor him, for he would have wanted us to carry on, albeit man-down.

Karl served his country as a B-52 navigator. He served his church as a Sunday school teacher and as a leader in the Engaged Ministry at St. Joseph Church. He served hundreds of young athletes as a coach, which was above all else for him a ministry - he coached to "honor the Creator". But more than any, he served his family as a model of generosity, humility, strength and the sweetest true love we will ever know. Karl gave with both hands.

If you would like to do something to honor his memory - to the boys he coached - "Give back to the game." Others, in lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to St. Joseph Catholic School.

Karl, "Cheers".