Thelma Lou Mitchell

Thelma “Lou” (Kelle) Mitchell, age 77, of Evansville, passed away on Wednesday, June 22, 2022 after a short battle with cancer. Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, of nearly 14 years at the time of his death in 1980, William “Tony” Mitchell; by her parents, Thomas and Sophia (Ramsey) Kelle; siblings, Mike Kelle, Kate (Kelle) Ziliak, Mary Jo “Josie” (Kelle) Wentzel, Ed Kelle; in-laws, Allen Wentzel and Julius Rexing; by a niece, JoAnna Wentzel-Bowley and nephews, Matt Rexing and Mark Ziliak. Surviving Thelma are daughters, their spouses and three grandchildren, Michele and Dan Donovan, their sons, Patrick and Alan; Carolyn and Brett Wininger and their daughter Catherine. Also surviving are siblings and spouses Pat Rexing, Jerry and Barb Kelle; sister-in-law Lorraine Kelle, eighteen nieces and nephews and many great and great-great nieces and nephews. Thelma was the second youngest of seven children born and raised in Vanderburgh County on Fisher Rd and a 1963 Mater Dei graduate. Her entire career was in food service. She worked a total of 33 years at St Mary’s Medical Center, five before having children and then another twenty-eight years after her husband’s passing, retiring in 2011. While her children were young and in school, she worked in the cafeteria at Memorial High School with her mom and older sister. She was a member of All Saints (St Anthony) Parish in Evansville since she and her husband “moved to town” in 1968. She was involved in and supported many organizations over the years to include Indiana Firefighters Association, Twin Towers, Amvets Local 84 Auxiliary, VFW Auxiliary 1114, and Eagles 4023. Her pastimes were playing cards with her favorite being clabber, piecing together puzzles and reading. There will be a Mass of Christian Burial held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, June 25, 2022 at St. Philip Catholic Church, Rev. Ryan Hilderbrand officiating. Burial will follow in St. Joseph Cemetery. Friends may visit with the family from 3:00 until 8:00 PM on Friday at Pierre Funeral Home, 2601 W. Franklin Street and from 9:30 AM until service time on Saturday at St. Philip Catholic Church, 3500 St. Philip Road, S. Mt. Vernon, IN 47620. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions can be made to the Evansville Firefighter’s Pipe and Drum Corps. Condolences may be made online at www.pierrefuneralhome.com.

Thelma Lou Mitchell

April 4, 1945 - June 22, 2022